Cuisine: American, Pasta, Fish
Restaurant Features: Beer, Wine
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 5607 Chicago Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55417 (612)825-6900
Hours: Sun-Thurs 5pm-9pm Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm
Links: First Course Website * First Course on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: First Course is a small but lovely restaurant snuggled between Mike’s Corner Store and Kowalskis Market on Chicago Ave at E 56th St. The restaurant isn’t very big but it sure is cute! The bar at the back is really the focal point of the restaurant.
Another part of the the dining room has just a handful of tables widely spaced apart and big, colorful stripes of color on the walls. There is also a small, basic patio area in the front of the building.
Menu: Tapas (small plates) at First Course include Honey Garlic Baby Back Ribs, Fried Green Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese, Three Salami’s, Grilled Asparagus with Onion Straws, Calamari, Goat Cheese, First Course Shrimp, Warm Almond Manchego Cheese, and Beef Skewers.
Other Appetizers include Seared Ahi Tuna, Bruschetta, Mediterranean Mussels, Antipasti Platter, and a Pizza of the Day.
Salads offered at First Course include Caesar, Grilled Portabella and Asparagus, Mixed Green, and the Bistro Salad (with bacon, egg, tomato).
Sandwiches offered are the Croque Monsieur, Bison Blue Burger, Mini Burgers with Cheddar.
First Course Pasta selections include Penne Alfredo, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Linguine with Prosciutto, Lamb Ragu with Pappardelle, Gnocchi in Gorgonzola Cream, and Risotto.
Entrees at First Course include Cornmeal Crusted Tilapia, Halibut, Chicken Roulade, Bone-In Pork Chops, New York Strip, and Duck Breast.
Desserts include Flourless Chocolate Cake, Tres Leches Cake, Creme Brulee, German Chocolate Cake, and Ice Cream or Sorbet.
Price guide: Tapas $4-8 Apps $6-14 Pasta $14-18 Entrees $17-29
What we ordered: A large heaping plate of bread arrived shortly after we ordered drinks. Soft, crusty, and still warm.
There are many different Small Plates (Tapas) and since we had a very large party, we ordered several items. We tried the Calamari, which was excellent! It was breaded and fried, then served with some kind of smokey mayo. Seriously good calamari.
We also ordered the Manchego Cheese, which was baked until slightly crispy and golden, then served on baguette and topped with sliced almonds. The order came with four little slices slightly soaking in a mix of oil, vinegar, and sherry. These were pretty awesome, full of both flavor and texture.
We also ordered the ribs. I did not try these but they came highly recommended by one of the servers. They looked and smelled great. The menu describes them as “Honey garlic baby back pork ribs with soy, ginger & chili oil”.
Another tapa we tried was the Bleu Cheese Stuffed Fried Olives. Not being a fan of olives, I did not try these either but the others raved about them.
We also tried the Asparagus with Onion Straws. The asparagus was cooked with balsamic vinegar which sweetened it up slightly, then was topped with a pile of thin onion straws. I like asparagus quite a bit and this was good, but I think I enjoyed the onion straws the most :)
We ordered two large dishes of the Coconut Red Curry Mussels. OMG, these were wonderful!! The menu actually called these Mediterranean Mussels which I believe is a misnomer as they actually had more Asian influence than Mediterranean. No matter what you call them, these mussels were very tender and soaked in a bath of coconut milk with red curry. This is my favorite style of mussels and these ranked up there in my TCRB Editor’s Picks: Mussels (stay tuned for that post in the future!)
We also ordered the First Course Shrimp. These giant Tiger Shrimp were served in a hot butter with fresh herbs and spices, very similar to shrimp scampi. Excellent!
We also ordered Entrees. I wasn’t sure what to get, the menu had several items that sounded really good to me. I wanted to try something that noone else in our group was going to order, so I ended up getting the Papperdelle Pasta with Lamb Ragu. This was pretty good; it had big chunks of tomato, rosemary and several pieces of tender lamb meat on top of a bed of pappardelle pasta. It was topped with grated pecorino cheese and parsley. I liked this but it was almost too mild for my taste. I’d personally like a little spice to it.
One of my companions ordered the Alaskan Halibut, which came with a roasted red pepper vinaigrette puree and fingerling potatoes.
Another companion ordered the New York Strip, a nice 16 oz cut cooked a perfect medium rare. It was well seasoned, served with fingerling potatoes and red onions over a red wine jus.
One of my companions ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. I nearly ordered this myself because it sounded so intriguing. I was lucky to try a bit of this and I thought it was very good. The ravioli were handmade little pockets stuffed with sweet butternut squash that contrasted the sharpness of the gorgonzola and brandy cream sauce. It was garnished with cooked carrot, pepper and swiss chard.
One of the specials of the evening was a King Ivory Salom with fresh salsa. I didn’t try this but it looked wonderful. There were two filets of the light colored salmon, covered with fresh salsa made with corn, tomatillo and radish.
Another companion ordered the Chicken Roulade. This dish had little chicken roll-ups with gorgonzola in a salty shallot sauce. It was topped with julienne veggies.
Two of my companions split the Risotto with Shrimp; pictured here is half the order. The risotto was creamy and the shrimp was well seasoned and tender.
One of my companions was celebrating a birthday and received this complimentary Tres Leches Cake. The piece was large enough to share with several and was very tasty. It was moist as it should be but one of the best features of this dessert was the passion fruit lime syrup drizzled on the plate. The tartness curbed the sweetness of the cake and really made this dessert stand out.
Service: We had excellent service at First Course. We had advance reservations for a large party on a Saturday night and a server almost all to ourselves. Wine was poured with frequency and the tapas and entrees were brought out in waves.
Overall Impression: First Course is a fabulous little restaurant in South Minneapolis with great food and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices are very reasonable for chef crafted dishes and the service is very good; First Course is a great place to visit for many different occasions. Beer and Wine only.
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Cuisine: American
Restaurant Features: Bar, Games, Flat Screen TVs, On-Site Parking, Patio, Sports Bar
Location: Saint Louis Park, MN
Address: 5916 Excelsior Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 922-9515
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 8am-1am Friday-Saturday: 8am-2am Sun: 10am-1am
Links: Bunny’s Website * Bunny’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Bunny’s Bar & Grill is located on Excelsior Blvd in Saint Louis Park, just west of Hwy 100. The space has been renovated since 1998 when Bunny’s first moved into this location, it is big and open for the most part, with nearly 30 TVs hung up around the restaurant and bar area. There are round tables in two sizes spread throughout.
Menu: Appetizers include Chicken Wings (cajun or buffalo), Onion Rings, French Fries Mexican Style Nachos, Artichoke Dip, Potato Skins, Catfish Fingers, Chicken Strips, Garlic Cheese Bread, Mozzarella Sticks, and Chicken Drummies.
Soups include Chicken Noodle, Tomato Basil, Chili and a Soup du Jour.
Bunny’s Salads include Taco, Grilled Chicken, Texas Steak, Cobb, Oriental Chicken, Spinach, Caesar, Chef and Dinner Salad.
Sandwiches come with fries, coleslaw, potato salad, cottage cheese, kettle fries or fresh fruit. Options include Taco Burrito Wrap, Steak Wrap, Clubhouse, BLT, Veggie Sandwich, Southwest Wrap, Chicken Caesar Wrap, French Dip, Triple Grilled Cheese, Grilled Reuben, BBQ Beef, Pork tenderloin Sandwich, Poprk Chop Sandwich, Dante’s Inferno, Tuna Melt, Jumbo Hot Dog, Original Chicken, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Hawaiian Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Broccoli Chicken, and Cajun Chicken.
Burger options at Bunny’s Bar & Grill include Build-your-own, Rack Attack, and Grilled Garden Burger (black bean).
Pizza options include Build-your-own, Deluxe or Margherita.
Pasta selections include Spaghetti Marinara, Fettuccine Alfredo, Cheese Tortellini, and Pesto Fettuccine.
Entrees include 12oz Sirloin, Pan Fried Walleye, Jumbo Shrimp. Low Carb Entrees include Grilled Burger Platter, Grilled Chicken Breast Platter, Chicken or Tuna Salad, and Cajun Pork Chop Platter.
Desserts include Ice Cream Sundae, Ice Cream Pie, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae, and Bunny’s Football Float.
Price guide: Appetizers $ Salads $5-10 Sandwiches $8-9 Entrees $9-16
Weekly Specials:
- Monday- Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, veggie and roll $8.50
- Tuesday-Roast Pork with Mashed Potatoes and Dressing $8.50
- Wednesday- Hot Turkey on sourdough with mashed potatoes and gravy $8.50
- Thursday- Lasagna with garlic toast $8.50
- Friday- Hot Roast Beef with mashed potatoes and gravy $8.50
What we ordered: We started with an order of Artichoke Dip, a creamy blend of artichokes, roasted red peppers, chiles and parmesan cheese. It was baked in a ramekin and served with garlic toast. Delicious and flavorful!
I was having difficulty deciding what to order and ended up with a French Dip. The sandwich was alright; it was piled with deli-style roast beef on a toasted french roll with a side of au jus. It was decent but not the greatest; would have been better with real shaved roast beef rather than the processed deli stuff. I’ve gotten really picky about my meats in that regard. I had the choice of side and went with the french fries.
My companion ordered the Rack Attack Burger with American cheese, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato and mayo. This burger was much better than the french dip! The burger was 1/2lb and had an impressive amount of freshly sauteed shrooms. It was served with a side of barbeque and fries as choice of side.
Service: We had no problem finding parking in the big lot or a table inside, although it was a busy Saturday afternoon. Our service was alright; it took a little longer than usual to get drinks refilled and meals were served before we had finished our appetizer.
Overall Impression: The atmosphere was lively and the Artichoke Dip was very good. Service was kind of slow.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Patio, Sunday Brunch Menu
Locations: Edina & St Paul, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Edina- 5034 France Ave South Edina, MN 55410 (952) 929-3764
St Paul- 917 Grand Ave St Paul, MN 55105 (651) 917-2345
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-12am Sun 10am-10pm
Links: Salut Website * Salut on Facebook
Atmosphere: Salut Bar Americain St Paul is located in the heart of Grand Ave, between Lexington and Victoria St. The inside of the restaurant is a big open space, with booths along the back wall and tables placed throughout the rest of the dining room so that each table had plenty of space. The lighting in the dining room is very soft and the walls are painted warm colors, giving it a cozy feel. The black and white checked tablecloths and the tables themselves are reminiscent of many cafes in France, helping to set the mood as a swanky French-inspired American restaurant. One thing that stood out that night was that it was uncomfortably warm inside the restaurant. I am not sure if there was a problem with their cooling system on this particular night or if it is always like that in the summer, but we honestly left as soon as our meal was done because we were all feeling too warm.
There is also a Bar, which is illuminated in a similar fashion as Chino Latino and Il Gatto, two of Parasole’s other restaurants that I have been to.
You can’t miss the patio, as you have to walk through it to get inside the restaurant
Menu: Salut’s Hor’sD’oeuvres include French Onion Soup, Soud du Jour, Ricotta Hushpuppies, Tenderloin Carpaccio, Five Spice Seared Tuna, Baked Brie, Pommes Frites, Crispy Calamari, Escargot Bourguignon, Truffled Deviled Eggs, Artichoke Pizza, Pizza Espagnole, Moules Cafe De Paris, Blue Crab Cake, and Charcutiere Et Fromage.
Raw Bar items include Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Le Grande France Platter (oysters, crab, shrimp, lobster, mussels and tuna tartare), Oysters Moscow, and Fresh Oysters.
Salad offerings are the A La Greque, Baby Beet, Salade de Canard, Salut Bleu, Caesar, Grilled Ahi Tuna Nicoise, Chicken Cobb and Seafood Louie.
Items offered only on the lunch menu include Chicken and Artichoke Crepes, Crepes Madame, Seafood Crepes, Eggs Benedict, French Country Omelette, and Smoked Salmon Omelette.
Sandwiches are served with either hand-cut fries or side salad. Choices include Le Pesto Burger, Cheeseburger Royale, French Onion Soup Burger, Burger Bar Americain, Steak Sandwich, Grilled Tuna Steak Sandwich, Knife and Fork Chicken Club, and Croque Madame.
Steak options at Salut include Steak Classique, Steak Au Poivre, Hanger Steak, and Petite Filet.
Fish dishes are made with fish flown-in daily. Options include Scottish Salmon, Pacific Ahi Tuna, Jumbo Shrimp, Grilled Rum Shrimp and Crispy Walnut Salmon.
Other Entrees include Pepita Poulet, Herb Roasted Half Chicken, Duck a l’orange, Braised Lamb Shank, and Cassoulet (traditional French stew).
Pasta dishes that are offered at Salut include Bolognaise, Smoked Chicken Fettuccine, Butternut Squash Tortellaci, Carbonara Milanese, and Champagne Shrimp Fettuccine.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-15 Salads $8-17 Sandwiches $11-15 Steaks $23-29 Fish $24-28 Pastas $16-18
Happy Hour:
- 3 – 6 pm daily
- Late Night: 10 pm – 12 midnight, Friday and Saturday
- $4 tap beers, well drinks and house wine
- $3 small plates
- $1.95 Oysters
Weekly Specials:
- Monday: Poulet Morrocain $17.95
- Tuesday: Shrimp Arrabiata $17.95
- Wednesday: Zee Walleye Feesh N Chips $19.95
- Thursday: Short Ribs $22.95
- Friday: Bouillabaise Seafood Stew $29.95
- Saturday: Cote de Boeuf Prime Rib $29.95
- Sunday: Steak Dianne $19.95
What we ordered: I started with a House Margarita, which was decent but only slightly tart and not overly strong.
My companions and I started with a couple of starters, such as the Pomme Frites. These were skinny-cut fries that had a justa hint of a batter on them which made them extra crispy. The order was served with a boat of homemade bearnaise sauce.
We also shared an order of the Moules Cafe de Paris. This was a big order of mussels steamed and then served in a broth of butter and wine with a sprinkling of green onions for garnish. The mussels were cooked perfectly so they were tender rather than chewy and the broth was very light. I enjoyed the mussels but would’ve like them even more in a sauce that had more flavor.
Before our meals were brought out we were served warm baguettes with whipped sea-salt butter. Simple but delicious.
Like usual I debated about what I was going to order, afraid of getting something boring. I ended up with the Steak Sandwich and ince I got to choose my side, I went with the Cream of Potato Soup. I was very happy with my choice, as the beef tenderloin was very tender and perfectly flavored with caramelized onion and melted gruyere cheese, served on a ciabatta bun. As per my usual when ordering steak, I requested freshly grated horseradish on the side. The cream of potato soup was also delicious.
A couple of my companions each ordered the Fork & Knife Chicken Club. You can see from the photo exactly why a fork and knife are needed for this beast of a sandwich; a giant grilled chicken breast atop a ciabatta bun with romaine then topped with thick-cut bacon and half an avocado. Side salad was chosen for the side item.
One of my companions ordered the Chicken Cobb Salad, which was packed with chopped chicken breast, bacon, avocado, hard boiled eggs, tomato, roasted beets, and bleu cheese crumbles.
Another companion ordered the Croque Madame, a fabulous spin on the traditional Croque Monsieur. Like the classic Croque Monsieur, this sandwich is open-faced with toasted ham and gruyere but then is topped with a fried egg. This is one item that would be great to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Mixed baby greens salad was choice of side.
The last of us ordered the Seafood Louie Salad. This salad consisted of a bed of greens, then topped with grilled salmon, shrimp and blue crab. Tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions and Louie Dressing (mayo, lemon, chili, worcestershire). Served with toast.
Service: We had decent service at Salut. We had a reservation for a group of six and our table was ready for us when we all arrived on a somewhat busy Friday night. We did not see our server immediately and when we did she was busy getting our drink orders and didn’t tell us about the daily specials until just before we ordered our meals. Luckily there was a sign near our table that featured the daily specials so we could have time to decide what to order. Our food came out reasonably fast, appetizers followed by the entrees about 15 minutes later. One thing I thought was really nice is that the server wrote us all separate tickets, eliminating the need to split everything up ourselves at the end of the night. I always appreciate that when out with a big group!
Overall Impression: For the most part, I enjoyed my visit to Salut. I thought the food and service were good and the atmosphere was nice despite how warm it was.
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Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant.
Cuisine: Breakfast, German
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, On-Site Parking, Patio
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 1 East 26th Street, Minneapolis MN 55404 | 612-872-0812
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10am-12am * Sat – Sun:9 am-12am
Links: Black Forest Inn Website * BlackForest Inn on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Located in its original home on East 26th Street at the corner of Nicollet, the Black Forest Inn has been a long-time family-owned Minneapolis institution since opening in May 1965. There are two different dining rooms inside the restaurant, as well as a bar, patio and attached banquet space. One of the most striking features of the decor are all the hand-painted murals and paintings. Beautiful!
The bar area is also a cute little space with well-loved wooden floors and a handsome wooden bar.
It was a fairly nice day out so my companion and I opted to sit on the patio, a courtyard-type space snuggled between the restaurant and the banquet room. The patio is so cute! They have a variety of flowers surrounding a cool metal sculpture and fairy lights strung up around the space and on the trees. Very inviting. No worries about sprinkling rain, there is a large motorized tarp that covers the patio space when unpredictable Minnesota weather takes a turn for the worse.
Black Forest Inn also has an attached Banquet space that can accommodate up to 100 people, a great place to throw a small party or Rehearsal Dinner!
Menu: Breakfast options include German Breakfast, New York Egg Sandwich, Apple Pancake, Eggs, Eggs Benedict, Muesli and Scones. Quiche is served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Appetizers at Black Forest Inn include Lentil Soup, Lentil Soup with Sausage, Soup du Jour, Liver Pate, Chicken Strips, Sauteed Mushrooms, Ham and Sauerkraut Balls, Onion Rings, Potato Pancake, and Sauerbraten Aspic.
Salads offered at Black Forest Inn are the Lentil Salad, Wurst Salad with Homemade Sausage, Tossed Salad, Caesar, Herring Salad with Toast, and Martjes Herring with Rye Bread.
Sandwiches and items found on the Lunch Menu include Spargel Toast with Ham and Asparagus, Pineapple Toast with Ham and Cheddar, Bratwurst, Burger, Veggie Burger, Bavarian Pork Sandwich, Ham & Cheese, Reuben or Rachel, Chicken Strips, and Fish and Chips.
German and European Entrees that are served at the Black Forest Inn all come with hard roll. Options include the Hausplatte (combo of sausages), Wiener Schnitzel, Jager Schnitzel, Geschnitzeltes, Nieren (veal kidney), Sauerbraten, Hungarian Goulash, and Baked Salmon.
Side Dishes include Red Cabbage, German Potato Salad, French Fries, Spaetzel, Semmelknodel, Fried Cabbage, Broccoli, and Sauerkraut.
Price guide: Appetizers $4-10 Salads $5-11 Sandwiches $ Entrees $15-25 Sides $3-6
Weekly Specials:
- Monday- Thursday- KÖNIGSBERGER KLOPS $9.95 ( Tasty, spiced meatball in a white caper sauce served with spaetzel) or ALSATION SAUERKRAUT CASSEROLE $9.95 (Slices of potato and smoked sausage in sauerkraut)
- Friday- KALBSHAXE BÜRGERLICH $18.00 (Large, tender vealshank smothered in vegetables and gravy) OR RIBS AND KRAUT $14.75 (Spareribs and sauerkraut, just like Mutti used to make)
- Saturday- BEEF ROULADEN $15.50 Two rolls$24.00 ( A classic beef roll with bacon, carrot, pickle and mustard, served in brown gravy with our own spaetzel noodles ) OR VEAL CORDON BLEU $24.25 (Tender slices of breaded veal wrapped around ham and swiss cheese and gently sauteed to order. Served with a tossed green salad )
- Sunday ROAST PORK $16.75 (Marinated and roasted to tender perfection and served with our famous apple dressing and gravy )OR CABBAGE ROLLS $9.95 Two rolls$14.75 (A leaf of green cabbage wraps itself around a flavorful meat filling. Served with real mashed potatoes)
What we ordered: We visited Black Forest Inn during the famous Spargelfest, so most of our dishes contained asparagus and were featured in this post. I also wanted to try something from the regular dinner menu and ended up with the Beef Rouladen (available only on Saturdays). I had never had this dish before so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but thought it was very good. The cut of beef tasted like it had been marinated and then was wrapped around a filling of tangy pickled veggies, then topped with brown gravy. Homemade Spaetzel was served on the side.
Service: We were invited out at the request of Black Forest Inn to cover the Spargelfest event and had a very nice time talking with Erica, one of the family members who own the restaurant. Although we did not order for ourselves, the service was very nice and everything was timed perfectly. I observed many of the servers who were working with other customers on the patio and everyone seemed friendly and helpful.
Overall Impression: Black Forest Inn is a charming German restaurant at the heart of Eat Street, with tasty, authentic German cuisine and friendly service. In addition to the good stuff that happens every day all year long, special annual events like Spargelfest are a true delight and I can only assume Oktoberfest is also a really good time. The patio is the ideal place to dine and hang out in the nicer weather months.
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Cuisine: American, Brunch Menu, Dessert, Fine-Dining
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, On-Site Parking, Patio,
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 374 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55102 651-224-5715
Dining Room Hours:
- Lunch: Mon – Fri 11am – 1:30pm
- Brunch: Sat/Sun 10:30am – 2pm
- Dinner: Mon – Sun 5pm – 10pm
Bar Hours: Sun – Thurs 11am – midnight Fri/Sat 11am – 1am
Links: WA Frost Website * WA Frost on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: WA Frost & Company is located on Selby Ave at Western Ave, in the Dacotah Building just a few blocks from the Cathedral, its home since the mid 1970-s. I came to sit on the patio so I never saw the main dining room but I did get a peek at the bar area, a nice sun-lit room with wooden floors and tables, as well as seating along the bar.
WA Frost has a beautiful patio that sprawls out behind the building. At the far end from the hostess stand is the Garden Bar. This area is open for seating in the afternoon before the main dining room opens. There are a number of little tables all over the patio, as well as cushioned sofas and sitting areas.
Another part of the garden patio is a sunken dining area with bigger, umbrella’ed tables and beautiful, lush green plants and flowers. Gorgeous!
Menu: Small plates on the bar menu include Rye Pierogis, Artichoke Spinach Dip, Korean Barbeque Chicken Wings, Marinated Mediterranean Olives, Grilled Octopus, Pork Belly Fig Strudel, Steamed Blue Mussels, Trio of Pacific Coast Oysters, Roasted Amish Asparagus, Grilled Duck Confit Flatbread, Charcuterie Plate. Additional plates found on the dinner menu include House Made Rabbit Sausage, and Torchon of Au Bon Canard Foie Gras.
Micro plates include Spring Vegetable Linguini, Crab Cake Salad, Roasted Pork Belly, Grilled Salmon, Housemade Lamb Sausage, Grilled Angus Filet.
Sandwiches on the bar menu include Reuben Panini, Lamb Burger, Grilled Black Angus Burger, Chef Burger, Fried Egg BLT, Cold Smoked Salmon Club, and Quinoa Falafel.
Salads include House Green Salad, Strawberry Salad , and “BLT” Salad. Soups include Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Soup and a Soup du Jour.
There is also an extensive number of domestic, regional and imported cheese plates.
Entrees on the Dinner Menu include Spring Vegetable Linguini, Crispy Barramundi, Pan Roasted Faroe Islands Scottish Salmon, Roasted Icelandic Cod, Grilled All Natural Dry Aged Top Sirloin, Moroccan Spiced Iowa Lamb Chops, Dry Aged Minnesota Duroc Pork Chop, and Pan Roasted Wild Acres Half Chicken.
Desserts include “Kit Kat Bar” house made Chai ice cream, Spumoni, Venezuelan Chocolate Torte, Stickney Hills Goat Cheese Panna Cotta, Classic Crème Brûlée and a Selection of Izzy’s Ice Cream.
There is also a Sunday Brunch menu that can be found here
Price guide: Small Plates $8-11 Micro Entrees $10-17 Sandwiches $11-12 Entrees $18-34 Desserts $6-8
Happy Hour:
- Monday-Friday 4- 6p.m. and 9 – 11 p.m.served in bars/lounge only
- $5.50 Appetizers: Shishito “Poppers”, Artichoke Dip, French Fries – Trio of Sauce, Korean Barbecue Chicken Wings Mini Cheeseburger and Fries
- Select Wines by the Glass 5.00La Playa Chardonnay, La Fiera Pinot Grigio99 Vines Pinot Noir, Flaco Tempranillo Select Beer, Rail Pour Cocktails 5.00 Featured Happy Hour Cocktail 5.00
Weekly Specials:
- Early seating prix fixe menu Mon-Fri 5-6pm . Three course meal $30 person$50 with select bottle of wine
What we ordered: My companion and I both started with cocktails. I ordered a House Margarita, which was decent.
My companion ordered a Gimlet, a cocktail with gin and a splash of lime.
My companion also tried this sampler of Whiskeys.
Our visit was during Happy Hour so we sat in the Garden Bar area. We started with the Artichoke Dip, one of the features on the HH menu. The blend of cheese and artichoke was covered with cheese and baked to a crispy brown. It was served with lavasch, a cracker-style flatbread.
We also ordered the Coconut Curry Blue Mussels which we both thought were amazing. The mussels were on the small side but they were extremely tender and the flavor enhanced by the sweet, creamy and spicy coconut green curry broth with fresno chili and cilantro. Delicious! The order also came with grilled sourdough bread from Rustica Bakery. I could eat a million of these!
We also shared the Reuben Panini, which is made with house-cured corned beef. The beef was delicious and tender, but did not taste at all like any corned beef I’ve had (and by now you should know I am a huge fan of corned beef and anything Reuben). The beef simply tasted like seasoned roast. It was topped with cheese, sauerkraut, thousand island and marble rye then pressed on the panini grill to make it extra crispy and give it the customary panini lines. Our server actually had the plates split for us so we each received a big portion of fries with our half of the panini.
When I ordered the sandwich I asked if they had any flavored mayonnaise (for dipping the fries), my server said he would see what he could do. He came back with the WA Frost trio of sauces; a Sriracha Aioli, Watercress Ranch, and some other type of aioli. They were all very good.
The server must have overheard that it was my companion’s birthday and brought out the Homemade Kit Kat Bar, compliments of WA Frost. This was very good and had an interesting texture. The base of the bar was hazelnut praline with maldon sea salt caramel and was somewhat flaky yet more dense than I expected. It was served with a creamy house made Chai ice cream. The serving size was somewhat small, I suspect this was the sample size that is served with the dessert trio.
Service: We had really good service while at WA Frost. I arrived early for Happy Hour and was able to get a spot in one of the parking lots and then a nice table in the Garden Bar area. Our server was reasonably fast and went out of his way a few times to make sure we got what we needed and then some.
Overall Impression: This was my first time at WA Frost and I fell in love with the patio at first site. Then one bite of the coconut curry mussels and I thought I might have died and gone to heaven! I will definitely be back to WA Frost again this summer for what can only be another fabulous meal.
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Cuisine: Banquet, Fish & Seafood, Sushi
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Flatscreen TVs, Rooftop Patio
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 1400 West Lake Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408 (612) 824-8862
Hours: *Sunday thru Wed.11:30am to Midnight *Thurs 11:30am-1:00am (food until 11:30) *Fri-Sat 11:30-2:00am (food until 12:30am)
Links: Stella’s Fish Cafe Website * Stella’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Stella’s Fish Cafe and Prestige Oyster Bar is located on Lake St, just across from Calhoun Square. The building is a large three-story building with a rooftop patio. The main floor is where you will find the bar and the main dining room, as well as the kitchen.
The lower level also contains a tank with live lobsters, just outside the kitchen.
The main floor also has a large bar area with several bistro tables spread throughout. There are many large windows that let in the sunlight and keep the room bright during the day.
Menu: Appetizers include Sushi Grade Tina Dip, Gorgonzola Table Bread, Surf and Turf Sliders, Jalapeno Skillet Cornbread, Edamame, Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes, Fish Tacos, Deep Fried Walleye Fingers, Coconut Shrimp, Fresh Fried Calamari, Champagne Mussels, Cajun Beef Bites, Oysters Rockefeller, Hot Crab & Spinach Dip, Crispy Fried Chicken Wings.
Stellas also has a Prestige Oyster Bar with a variety of fresh raw oysters including Blue Point, Malpaques, Hog Neck Bay, Hawks Point, Oyster Bay, Totten Inlet, Japanese Style Oysters (topped with ponzu and chives) and Mexican Style Oysters (topped with citrus salsa and pico de gallo).
There are also a variety of fresh sushi rolls including Salmon Explosion( marinated wasabi salmon, cucumber and avocado topped with salmon), White Tuna Roll, Stella Roll (spicy tuna and cucumber), Crunchy (shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumbers), Tuna Poke Roll (ahi tuna, pineapple, asparagus, cilantro, topped with toasted sesame seeds and wasabi mayo), Baked Lobster Roll (crab and asparagus rolled in soy paper topped with baked lobster), Spicy Tuna Palooza (tuna, avocado, carrots, topped with tuna and chives), California Roll and Dragon Roll (tempura shrimp, cucumber, spicy mayo, topped with fresh eel, avocado and teriyaki).
Other Raw Bar items include Peel N Eat Shrimp, Daily Razzle Dazzle Ceviche, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Spicy Tuna Crisps and The Spicy Oshi.
Soups include New England Clam Chowder with Bacon and a Soup du Jour. Salads offered at Stella’s include Walnut Salad, Caesar, Roasted Beets over Mixed Greens, Miced Field Greens, and Asparagus and Prosciutto. There are also two larger salads meant for sharing: Caesar and Grilled Tuna Nicoise.
Stella’s Signatures include Stuffed Tilapia, King Crab, Blackened Swordfish, Stella’s Fish Sampler, Jambalaya, Blackened Ribeye, San Francisco Cioppino.
Fresh Fish selections vary from day to day but may include Grey Snapper, Halibut, Ahi Tuna, Altantic Salmon, Swordfish, Diver Scallops, and Maine Lobster.
Pasta options include Linguini Shrimp Scampi and Blackened Chicken Fettuccini.
Stella also has steaks for those who prefer turf over surf. Choose from 8 oz Filet Mignon, 16 oz Ribeye, 16 oz New York Strip, and 16 oz Bar Steak.
Platter and Basket options all come with french fries or garlic mashed potatoes and include Barbeque Ribs, Beer Battered Walleye, Coconut Shrimp, Lobster Roll, Fish N Chips, Cornmeal Crusted Catfish and Beer Battered Shrimp.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-15 Oysters $2.50+/ea Sushi $15 Salads $5-15 Signatures $22-55 Fresh Catch $22-35 Steaks $20-35
Happy Hour:
- Mon-Friday 3-6pm
- Sat-Sun 12pm-5pm
- Sun-Thurs 9pm-11pm
- Fri-Sat 10:30pm-12:30am
- $5.25 Appetizers: Salmon Burger Sliders, Philly Cheese Steak Sliders, Buffalo Wings, Fat Tire Frickels, BBQ Rib Basket, 1/2 lb Peel & Eat Shrimp, Hot Crab & Spinach Dip, Spicy Fried Calamari, Champagne Mussles, Cheese Curds, Taco of the Day, Ahi Tuna Crisps,
- $1 Oysters on the half shell
- 2-for-1 Rails and Taps
Weekly Specials:
Thursday- Crab Feast $24.95
Sunday- 1 1/4 lb whole live lobster $19.95
What we ordered: There was no doubt in my mind that we would be eating fresh oysters to start, the question was which kind we would order. Opting to eat in the dining room instead of having Happy Hour in the bar where the oysters were much cheaper, we ordered a dozen of the Blue Point Oysters because they seemed to be the best value and they came recommended by our server. These were tasty and tender without any hint of fishiness and even better when dressed with lemon, cocktail and fresh horseradish. My only complaint was that the size of the oysters was not consistent and some of them were very small.
There were many items on the menu that sounded delicious and the server had many good suggestions but when it came down to it, I ordered the Fish & Chips, a regular feature. These thick pieces of flaky cod were very enjoyable; the batter that was used had a pleasant mix of seasoning and the perfect amount of golden crispiness without being too greasy. There were three pieces of the cod which didn’t seem like an overly big portion for the price but it was truly excellent fish. The fries were fresh-cut and also very good, as were the tartar sauce and cole slaw.
After hearing a lot about Lobster Rolls recently, that is what my companion decided to order for dinner. The large pieces of cold lobster were tossed with mayo, celery, and a dash of lemon, then topped onto a warm, toasty baquette. This sandwich was quite good, especially to eat on a warm summer day. I personally prefer my lobster hot and buttery but this was a very refreshing way to eat it.
Service: We had pretty good service at Stella’s Fish Cafe. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and had many recommendations. Our drinks were refilled in a decent amount of time but our meals were served to us too soon after the oysters were brought out. It is a pet peeve of mine to have the main course served before the appetizer is finished or taken away, the experience just isn’t as enjoyable when I feel rushed.
Overall Impression: I had been wanting to try Stella’s for years and finally made the trip to Uptown specifically to have oysters and fish. The oysters were good and the fish and chips were also excellent. Next time I will try to make it out on a nice day to take advantage of the rooftop patio and the cheap happy hour oyster specials!
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Cuisine: American, Greek, Fish & Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Chops, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Live Music, Patio, On-Site Parking
Location: Fridley, MN
Address: 6161 Central Ave. N.E. (Hwy. 65) Fridley, MN 55432 763-398-0088
Kitchen Hours: Mon-Tues: 11am – 9pm Wed-Thurs: 11am – 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am – 11pm Sun Brunch: 10am – 2pm Sun Dinner: 4pm – 9pm
Links: Shorewood Grill Website * Shorewood on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The main dining room is a cozy space, with rich, warm colors and murals on the walls, along with a fireplace and big booths.
The bar/lounge area is an extra large room with the bar centrally located. There are a number of large booths around the perimeter of the room, with several bistro tables spread throughout as well. There was a small stage at the front of the room where a band played later in the evening.
There is a patio that can be accessed from both the dining room and the bar with views of the small lake nearby.
Menu: Appetizers at Shorewood include Calamari, Shorewood Meatballs, Spanakopita, Saginaki, Gyros, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Kalamata Bruschetta, Crab Cakes, Shrimp Cocktail, Stuffed Mushrooms, Pita Bread & Spreads, Ahi Tuna, and Hercules Bites.
Salads include Greek Village, Peasant, Chopped, Caesar and King Louie. Soups include Chicken Orzo or a Soup du Jour.
Shorewood’s sandwich offers a handful of sandwiches such as Prime Rib Dip, Gyro, Black Angus Burger, Chicken Caesar Wrap, and Walleye Sandwich.
Entrees include Kebobs (chicken, beef or swordfish), Chicken in Phyllo, Athenian Lamb Chops, Gyros Dinner, Meatloaf, BBQ Ribs, Roasted Chicken, and Chicken Pot Pie.
Steak and Pork options include New York Strip, Steak de Greco, Grilled Ribeye, Filet Mignon, Prime Rib, Short Ribs, and Pork Chops.
Shorewood’s seafood options include Lobster Tail, Walleye,Grecian Shrimp, Crab Stuffed Salmon, and Jumbo Scallops.
Pasta offerings include Lobster Ravioli, Lime Chicken Tortellini, Theva Pasta with Lamb, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Alfredo, and Mediterranean Pasta.
Children’s Menu has items such as Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Tenders, Mini Pizza, Mini Prime Rib, Mini Burgers, and Mini Gyros.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-12 Salads $9-14 Sandwiches $10-14 Entrees $14-24 Steak $17-27 Seafood $18+
What we ordered: (In order of appearance) One of my companions ordered this Spinach Artichoke Dip, a creamy blend of cheeses baked in a ramekin and served with pita bread. I tried a few bites of this and it was very good. It had the rich flavor of artichoke, spinach, onions, parmesan and other cheeses and was baked until the cheese was a bubbly golden color.
My entree came with a salad, so I went with the Greek Salad, which was the basic salad with feta and pepperoncini. Crisp and fresh.
One of my companions ordered the New York Strip, prepared medium. This meal comes with both veggies and au gratin potatoes, but was ordered without veggies due to a food allergy; as you can see it was still served with a sauteed veggie medley.
Another companion ordered the Grecian Shrimp, a dish of shrimp baked with garlic butter and feta. These were delicious; the shrimp were decent sized and covered with feta. The meal was served with veggie medley and mashed potatoes.
My companions also ordered the Calamari, which came after their meals. I tried this and thought it was some of the best calamari I have had; the squid was cooked perfectly yet the batter was still crispy. It was served over a bed of sauteed banana and pepperoncini peppers, which was a nice tangy accompaniment. I could also taste a hint of lemon and I loved that it had little squids in addition to the rings. Served with a Crab Louie sauce, which was tangy and creamy. Huge portion.
Another companion ordered the Chicken Tenders, which came with six large, ordinary pieces of white meat chicken.
The guest of honor had the Seared Ahi Tuna, which came with two thick pieces of tuna seared on the outside and raw in the middle. The fish was served over thin slices of carrots and cucumbers and drizzled with wasabi mayo.
Another companion ordered the Stuffed Burger, which was still slightly pink in the middle along with the melted cheddar cheese. For some reason it didn’t come with any fries?
One companion ordered the Phyllo Chicken. I did not try this dish but it looked very good. It had a chicken breast stuffed with spinach, feta and pine nuts, then wrapped in the light and flaky phyllo dough and baked to a golden color. It was topped with a creamy sauce and served with veggie medley and mashed potatoes.
I ordered the Lobster Ravioli, which I liked very much. The portion came with 4-5 large raviolis filled with a cheesy lobster mix, then topped with a creamy rosa sauce and a small about of lobster meat. I loved every bite and was still hungry when it was all gone (and it is very rare that I finish my entree!) It would’ve been great to have bread with this meal but it was not brought out until after we already ate.
Another companion ordered the Chicken Pot Pie, which I tried and thought was very good. There was just the right amount of vegetables and chunky white chicken to the creamy chicken soup. It had a flaky, buttery crust baked on top, then sprinkled with parmesan. Total comfort food!
Another companion ordered the Gyro Appetizer. I did not try this at all but it looked like standard gyro meat and fixings,
A couple of my companions ordered Flaming Cinnamon shots which were quite spectacular when set on fire (at the bar only).
Service: The service that we experienced at Shorewood Bar & Grill was beyond disappointing; it was downright appalling. Our party consisted of fifteen people, with a reservation made four weeks in advance. We arrived on time to be seated in the lounge, with one large booth (seats 6-8) and a handful of 2-person bistro tables for our party. It was very awkward from the get-go, with there being no good way of arranging the tables so that everyone was included. Our server was a new employee, having just started at Shorewood the week prior. She was nice and sweet and I can cut her a little bit of slack because she was new, but Shorewood should know better than to put a newbie with a group so big on a busy weekend night. I guess Shorewood’s mentality with new wait staff is “sink or swim”?
Our biggest problem of the night wasn’t necessarily with our server; it was more the bad timing of the food. We all ordered within a half hour of our arrival, with the server starting at one end of the party and then finishing at the other end. Logical, right? The first four people to order received their salads about 43 minutes after ordering. Not even two minutes later their entrees showed up, but no sign of the calamari that was ordered as an appetizer. The timing of the food was just totally off! Someone did bring the calamari right out to us after inquiring to its whereabouts and we were not charged for it. This first group that got their food also had a serious problem: After requesting “no vegetables” to the server due to a food allergy, the steak entree showed up with vegetables. This mistake could have turned into a scary and life-threatening situation real quick. About twenty minutes later (an hour after ordering), the second wave of food arrived to those in the middle of the seating arrangement, myself included. It was not for another 30 minutes beyond this point that the last section of our group received their food, approximately 90 minutes after ordering. Our bread wasn’t served to us until the second time we requested it, and it came after the meal.
All the while we were waiting (and waiting!) for our food, the people who arranged the party spoke with the management to express their unhappiness with the chain of events. I am not sure of how that situation was remedied but I personally never saw the management once that evening, nor did they come to check with the guests in our party. I think that personal tough was warranted in this situation and being accustomed to good service most places I go, I expect it. They did, however send in a few additional servers to check on us after the first two hours and these girls were very nice. At the end of the evening someone in our party passed my card along to the management and let them know that I was there and I was doing a review for this blog; the management sent our server over to me and asked if he could by me a drink since he knew I was writing a review. I find it kind of insulting that they thought maybe they could keep me quiet by buying me a margarita.
Overall Impression: Very mixed. I thought the food was really good but the service was terrible. As much as I liked the food, more importantly to me is how the service is and how the restaurant made us feel. I know I personally never felt like my business was valued or appreciated and I think it is safe to say the same for the majority of the people in our large party. The fact that our party was so big was a factor in the quality of service (I can only assume), but to me that shouldn’t matter. I have been to plenty of restaurants as part of a large group and most have done a great job. Shorewood has a long way to go with their service before I would consider going back.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood, Steaks, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Happy Hour (bar only), On-Site Parking, Patio, Sunday Brunch
Location: North Oaks, MN
Address: 5959 Centerville Road North Oaks, MN 55127 651-426-9222
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5-9pm (Bar 4-10pm), Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm (bar 4-11pm) Sun 10am-8pm
Links: Tria Website * Tria on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Tria is located at Centerville Rd and County Rd J in a large, beautiful building that more closely resembles a modern mansion than a restaurant. There are six dining areas within the property. The main dining room is just inside the entrance; a homey room with arched entries, fireplaces and wooden floors.
Another popular area at Tria is the Bar, which is where we sat. The beautiful wooden bar is the center of the room, with big booths running along the wall.
This is one of the areas available for private dining
Private Dining Area at Tria ~ North Oaks, MN
Here is another dining space.
Additional Dining Area at Tria ~ North Oaks, MN
Menu: Appetizers at Tria include Bruschetta Boursin, Seared Scallops, Escargot, Beef Bites, Crab Cakes, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Dijon Chicken Bites, Walleye Fingers, Chicken Tenders, Calamari, Shrimp Pronto Pup, Mushroom Puff, Wild Mushroom Flatbread (bar only, and Prosciutto and Arugula Flatbread (bar only).
Soups include Cream of Wild Rice and Brie, French Onion, and the Scallop and Cucumber. Salad offerings are the Caesar, Wedge, Spinach and Roasted Beet.
Casual Classics include Chicken Pot Pie, 1/2 lb Burger, Chicken Club, Walleye, Prime Rib Dip, and Baked Mac N Cheese.
Tria’s Entrees include Tournedos of Beef (choice of Dijon Cream, Bearnaise or Sauteed Mushrooms), Walleye (broiled, blacked or pan fried), Veal Scaloppine (piccata, marsala, caprese), Chicken Penne, Pappardelle Pasta, Chardonnay Chicken, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Stuffed Chicken, Pork Shank, Steak Frites, 6 oz or 9 oz Filet Mignon, 14 oz Ribeye, New York Strip, Lamb Chops, Venison, Salmon, Seared Ahi Tuna, Halibut, Sea Bass, Scallops, and Shrimp Scampi.
Desserts include Artisan Cheese Board, Homemade Ice Cream (pistachio white chocolate, ), Homemade Sorbet, Hot Fudge or Mixed Berry Sundae, Chocolate Lava Cake, New York Cheesecake, Creme Brulee, Chocolate Decadence, Apple Tart, and Chomeur Pudding. There are also a number of dessert wines and ports.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-12 Entrees $15-30 Desserts $3-9
Happy Hour:
- Early Bird M-F 4:00-6:30
- Late Night M-Th 9pm-close Sunday 8pm-close
- Bar Area Only
- 1/2 price Salmon Creek Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, Michelob Golden Light, House Rail Cocktails
- $3 off Appetizers
Weekly Specials:
Wednesday- Maple Glazed Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes $18
Thursday- Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potato, Green Beans and Popover Queen Cut $20 King Cut $24
Friday- Cioppino $27
Saturday- Beef Short Ribs with Mashed Potatoes $24
Sunday- Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potato, Green Beans and Popover Queen $20 King $24
What we ordered: My companions and I visited Tria during Happy Hour, so we ordered several appetizers, including the Chicken Dijon Bites. These little bites of white meat chicken were mixed with a flavorful, creamy dijon mustard sauce along with sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Delicious and low-carb! Came with a long slice of toasted ciabatta.
We also tried the Artichoke Dip, which was also very good. The blend of cheeses, spinach and artichokes was baked in a ramekin with breadcrumbs on top. It was served with a plate-full of golden baguette toasts. Both the dip and the toast were wonderful, just wish there was more dip for all the toast ;)
We also had the Beef Bites, mmm mmm mmm. The bites of beef were tender and juicy, seasoned with Montreal spices and cooked in a red wine reduction, then served with a side of bearnaise and extra-long slice of toasted ciabatta. Delish!
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Beef Bites at Tria ~ North Oaks, MN
And last but certainly not least of the appetizers is the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. I like everything I tried but this definitely stood out, it was fabulous! The flatbread was topped with chive oil, fresh garlic, wild mushrooms and boursin cheese, then baked to a crispy golden brown and topped with fresh sprouts. The pizza was light and very flavorful and I absolutely loved the cheese they used, it had much more to offer in the flavor department than any ordinary mozzarella. I might dream about this pizza, it was that good.
We also ordered a Burger with Bacon and Bleu Cheese. The burger was 1/2 lb of beef topped with extra thick slices of smokey bacon and bleu cheese crumbles on a fresh, toasted bun. The entire thing was very good but the bacon was outstanding.
We were definitely full from our appetizers and wine but when I heard they had a list of homemade ice creams and sorbets, I had to try one. Our server ran down the list of flavors and once I heard “pistachio” I was sold. This was no ordinary pistachio ice cream. It was a scoop of frozen heaven in a dish and I am an ice cream lover to the core. It was rich, creamy and packed full of small pieces of pistachios and the white chocolate was infused into the pistachio cream. Heavenly!
Service: We had excellent service at Tria. We wanted to take advantage of the happy hour specials so we sat in the bar; fortunately we arrived early enough that a booth was available. Our server greeted us right away and told us about the happy hour specials. Our glasses of wine arrived within minutes so we enjoyed it while we looked over the appetizer menu. Our server was great about checking on us even when the bar area became busy, all requests were taken care of quickly.
Overall Impression: I am glad I finally tried Tria; the food, service and atmosphere were all excellent. I am still thinking about the Wild Mushroom Flatbread and the Pistachio Ice Cream, but would also like to have dinner there next time I visit. Looking forward to the patio when it gets a little warmer too!
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