Cuisine: Fish & Seafood, Steak, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Catering, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Shoreview, MN
Address: 4785 Hodgson Road Shoreview, MN 55126 651-484-8484
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Sunday Brunch 10:30-1:30p Dinner Daily at 4pm
Links: Kozlak’s Royal Oak Website * Kozlak’s Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Kozlak’s is located in a large, stand-alone building on Hodgson Road, about a half mile north of Hwy 96 in Shoreview. One thing you will notice when you arrive is the drive-up entrance at the front of the building, meant for picking up/dropping off guests. The parking lot is in the back in the building, a long walk around the building in the cold winter!
There is a small reception area when you first walk in that sits between the bar area (to the left) and the main dining room (to the right). Festively decorated over the Holidays!
Both the main dining room and the dining room adjacent to the bar area have tables, all of which are covered with white tablecloths. I did not have the pleasure of dining in this room so I just got a glance, same as you see below. It was festively decorated with balloons on New Year’s Eve.
This is the smaller, more intimate dining room with tables that seem to be spaced further apart than in the main dining room.
Menu: Appetizer’s at Kozlak’s include Coconut Shrimp, Asparagus with Bearnaise, Scallops Parmesan, Cajun Beef Bites, Clam Chowder, Bruschetta, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Chili-Rubbed Ribs, Broiled Lobster Tail, Escargots, Sesame Wings, Wild Mushroom Crustini, Onion Rings and Artichoke Parmesan Dip. The Featured Appetizers are Szechuan Beef Tips and Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup.
Salad options at Kozlak’s are the Pecan Crusted Chicken, Bruschetta, Salmon Spinach, and Marie’s Salad (with bleu cheese, olives and dried cranberries).
Sandwiches that are offered are the Baked Reuben and the Hashbrown-Crusted Walleye.
Entrees come with potato du jour, bread, salad and vegetable. Options include Twin Tenderloins with Portabellas, Sauteed Calves’ Liver, Pasta Vermouth, Parmesan Chicken, Medallions of Beef, Chicken Supreme, Roasted Plump Duckling, Blackened Pork Porter House, and Barbeque Ribs. Featured Entrees are the Beef Wellington and the Roasted Vegetable Pasta.
Kozlak’s is well known for their steaks, with cuts such as Bone-in Tenderloin, New York Strip, Tenderloin Filet, and Roasted Prime Rib. All steaks come with soup or salad, baked potato and bread. Add-ons for steak include Melted Bleu Cheese, Butter Taragon Sauce, Peppercorn Crusted, Sauteed Mushroom, Sauteed Onions, Garlic Portabella Mushrooms, Hash Browns, French Fries, and Asparagus.
Fish and Seafood Selections include Broiled Salmon, Salmon Royal Oak, Pecan Walleye, Sea Scallops, Walleye, Steamed African Lobster, Tenderloin and Lobster combo, Pasta and Shrimp, Garlic Broiled Shrimp and Alaskan Crab Legs.
Save room for dessert! In addition to Ice Cream, Gelato, and Sorbet there have homemade cheesecake, chocolate cake, and others.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-13 Salads $6-14 Entrees $18-25 Seafood $23-27 (+ market price lobster) Steaks $28-50
Sunday Brunch
- $18.95/Adults $10.95/ Kids 6-12 $6.95/ Kids 5 and Under
- 10:30am-1:30pm
- Live New Orleans Jazz
- Full Salad Bar, Scrambled Eggs Carbonara , Fresh Baked Biscuits with Sausage Gravy, Featured Chicken item, Cajun Ribs, Pecan-Breaded Catfish Fingers, Jambalaya with sausage & chicken, Classic Eggs Benedict, Kozlak’s home made French Toast with Pecan Maple Syrup, Breakfast Bacon, Sausage, Chef’s Fresh Vegetable, Gumbo Soup, Potatoes Pontalba with Béarnaise Sauce, Made-to-order Omelettes, Dessert & Sundae Bar
What we ordered: We started with the complimentary loaf of French Bread that was brought to our table shortly after we ordered. The bread was crusty on the outside, soft and still slightly warm on the inside. The loaf had about four slices which went fast, another loaf soon followed!
Each entree comes with a house salad or for a $3 upgrade you can take a trip through the Salad Bar. I chose the House Salad, which was Caesar. The homemade dressing that Kozlak’s is very good, a tad sweeter than the traditional Caesar.
Typically I order ribeye at steak houses however Kozlak’s doesn’t offer that cut as an option, so instead I ordered the delectable Queen Cut Prime Rib. Each bite was incredibly tender and delicious! I ordered a side of the customary freshly grated horseradish and it also was served with au jus on the side. Even though this was just the Queen cut (compared to the larger King cut), it was still huge and I had to bring half my steak home. I ordered a baked potato with my steak and also a side of sauteed mushrooms, which I shared with my companions.
One of my companions ordered the 8oz Tenderloin Filet, a handsome, thick and extremely tender cut of beef. It was topped with Kozlak’s signature garlic butter, which adds a splash of melted buttery heaven as it melts over the steak. Butter on steak? You just have to try this! The flavor of the meat itself had a slightly aged flavor and just a glorious hint of char from the grill. Cooked a perfect medium.
Another companion ordered the King Cut Prime Rib, the larger version of my steak. This cut was indeed extra large, standing at least 2″ tall!
Another companion ordered the Steak & Lobster meal. The steak was the Kozlak’s filet which was very good but the real star of this combo was the African Lobster Tail. This giant lobster tail was cooked as perfect as you can cook a lobster. When my companioned offered me a bite I couldn’t resist the sweet, succulent, buttery treat. The lobster was so fresh that I suspected it had been alive just minutes before it was served, but such was not the case.
For dessert one of my companions and I shared a Pink Squirrel ice cream drink. Have you had one of these before? They are yummy! Vanilla ice cream blended with Creme de Noyaux, an almond liqueur, Creme de Cacao, light cream, then topped with whipped cream. So creamy and smooth!
Service: We had great service at Kozlak’s. Our party had a reservation on New Year’s Eve and we were brought to our table shortly after we arrived. Our server greeted us shortly after we sat down to take our drink order. It was a very busy night and Kozlak’s had a full house, but cocktails were brought out in under ten minutes, other drinks were refilled as needed. The menu on New Year’s Eve was somewhat limited but the server made good suggestions and answered any questions we had, brought us everything we needed as soon as possible. Food was prepared in less than thirty minutes, while we munched on our bread and salads.
Overall Impression: Great service! The lobster I tried at Kozlak’s was some of the best I have had and the steaks were also excellent. The prices are standard for a nice steak house, but won’t break the bank if you only visit on occasion. I would love to try the New Orleans Brunch Buffet sometime soon!
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Cuisine: Cajun, Creole, Southern Style
Restaurant Features: Banquet Room, Bar, Catering, Dessert, Live Music, Patio, Sunday Brunch
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 695 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 651-222-7345
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-12am Thur-Sat 11am-2am Sun 10a-10pm
Links:*Dixie’s on Grand Website * Dixie’s Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Dixie’s is located in the same building as Saji-Ya. The dining room is toward the back of the space, with tables and booths located on two levels. A street-lamp type decoration bearing a “Bourbon Street” sign reminds you that Dixie’s is a Louisiana-inspired restaurant.
There is a big bar area in the front of Dixie’s, complete with a dance floor. This is a very popular place every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month when they have Salsa Dancing.
Dixie’s also has a patio area in the front of the building, and despite being attached to the parking lot, it is a great place to have food & drinks when the weather is nice.
Menu: Appetizers at Dixie’s include Beef Jerky, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Dixie Wings, Deep-Fried Avocado Fries, Blacken Shrimp or Chicken Quesadilla, Cornmeal Catfish Nuggets, Soul Fries (fries with cheddar, bleu cheese, bacon and ranch), Chicken Nachos, Baby Back Ribs, Baby St Louis Style Ribs, Spicy Sesame Green Beans, Carolina Crab Cakes, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Baked Mushrooms.
Soups and Chilis at Dixie’s are the Carolina Crab Soup, Cuban Black Bean Vegetarian Chili, Louisiana Gumbo, Chicken Chili and Pecos Red River Chili.
The few salad options include Caesar, Key Largo (smoked turkey, pecans, gorgonzola), Grilled or Fried Chicken Salad, and Coconut Chicken Salad.
Dixie’s sandwiches and burgers include Pulled BBQ Pork, Pulled BBQ Chicken, BBQ Beef Brisket, Cajun BBQ Chicken, Blackened Chicken Deluxe, Sesame Chicken Mushroom Melt, Portobello Mushroom, Catfish Club, Pot Roast Cheeseburger, Dixie Burger, Cajun Burger, Blackened Bleu Burger, and Black Bean Veggie Stacker. Po’ Boy sandwich options include Blackened Catfish, BBQ Pork Tenderloin, and Fried Gulf Shrimp. All sandwiches and burgers come with choice of potato or vegetable.
Dixie’s House Smoked Specialty items are the Baby Back Ribs, St Louis Style Ribs, Barbeque Chicken, Thick-Cut Pork Chops, Rib Combo and BBQ Sampler Platter.
Dinner Entree options are Country Fried Steak, New York Strip Steak, Kentucky Bourbon Pot Roast, Pecos Pork Tenderloin, Veggie Black Bean Cakes, Honey Pecan Chicken, Bourbon Chicken, Jambalaya, Carolina Crab Cakes, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Blackened Catfish, Bleu Grass Chicken Breast, Almond Grouper, and Seafood Potpie.
Desserts at Dixie’s include Key Lime Pie, Butterscotch Pecan Pie, Fudge Cake, and Traditional Bread Pudding.
Price guide: Appetizers $10-14 Soups $5/cup $7/bowl Sandwiches $11-15 Smoked Specialties $15-40 Entrees $14-25 Desserts $6-7
- 7 Days 3-6pm
- $3.50 Tap Beers
- $2.50 Dom. Bottles $3.50 Import Bottles
- Many 1/2 price Appetizers
Sunday Brunch:
- $19.95/ Adults $12.95/ Kids 5+
- 10am-1:30pm
- Bottomless Champagne Flute, Made-to-Order Omelets and Egg Benedict, Fresh Fruits, Salads, Hot Biscuits, Brunch Potatoes, Red Beans & Rice, Country Scrambled Eggs, Specialty Entrees and Homemade Desserts.
- Live Jazz Music (check calendar)
What we ordered: I started with a bowl of the Squash and Sausage Chowder, which I shared with one of my companions. I really had no idea what to expect when I ordered this, because I had never had anything like it before. It was delicious!! The consistency of the dish reminded me of sloppy joes, but replace the ground beef for the more flavorful ground sausage and replace the tomato with a sweet pureed squash. What a great combination of flavors and textures together; slightly sweet and slightly spicy. It had toasted croutons on top which added a satisfying crunch to the mix. This was a huge bowl of chowder….. my companion and I were both nearly full before the rest of our meals were brought out. What a sublime dish for Autumn!
Another companion started with a bowl of the Louisiana Gumbo. I tried this and thought is was very good. I know that authentic lousiana gumbo has many variations and since I haven’t had it before, I am not sure how this compares. It was a thick soup-like dish that had a hearty mix of shrimp, andouille sausage, and chicken. It was flavorful but not spicy, not sure which spices Dixie’s uses.
We were given a basket of biscuits, which literally disappeared in seconds. They were still warm!
I ordered the Catfish Club, which turned out to be a great choice! The large filet of catfish had been char-blackened and then layered with buttery-toasted bread, thick sliced crispy bacon, romaine lettuce, sliced tomato and mayo. Each ingredient brought something to the table in both texture and taste. I was happy that the catfish wasn’t at all fishy and was a thick enough cut that I could sink my teeth into it. This sandwich really hit the spot! It was served with a lightly battered french fry.
One of my companions ordered the Pork Tenderloin Po’ Boy. The tenderloin had been sliced thin so it was extremely tender, and blackened for that cajun flavor. It was coved with melted pepper jack cheese and barbeque sauce, lettuce and mayo. Very tasty!
Another companion had the Pecos Pork Tenderloin, which was well-seasoned and then char-broiled to give it a blackened texture and taste. It was served with two dipping sauces, one was spicy peanut and the other was a mustard bbq. Choice of potato or vegetable was offered and my companion chose the succotash, which was sauteed vegetables with corn (sorry, no photo)
Another companion tried to order the $39.95 Dixie’s BBQ Sampler but the server talked him out of it, saying it was too much food for one person. After contemplating the menu and hearing other suggestions, my companion ordered the Pot Roast Dinner instead. It was a large serving of pot roast that was covered with a Kentucky Bourbon sauce. This dish did not go over very well, my companion didn’t care for the sauce. The server offered a free dessert for the trouble. The BBQ Platter would have been a much better choice, even if it was too much food for one person!
My companion was given a free dessert to make up for the pot roast, and chose the Key Lime Pie. This was very good, but very sweet. It had a delicious, thick graham cracker crust and a lot of whipped cream.
Service: Our service at Dixie’s was decent, as far as spacing our courses, etc, but overall the service could have been a lot better. Sodas were refilled in the proper amount of time but the server forgot to put in a 2nd drink order from the bar, so we never received the cocktails we ordered with our meals. There were a few other items we asked for that the server forgot as well, not to mention she talked my companion out of ordering what they really wanted. At one point a large group that sat near us all stood up to leave after finishing their meal, but they continued to stand and talk for at least 5 minutes. This wouldn’t normally bother me but they were practically hovering over our table, which made it very uncomfortable for us, not to mention they were blocking a major walkway through the restaurant. I don’t know what Dixie’s could have done about that, other than gently asking them to stand somewhere else? I am hoping that service is better on a night that isn’t so busy.
Overall Impression: The service wasn’t that great but the food was very good. I would go back at a less busy time and try some other items on the menu. Dixie’s has a banquet room and also offers catering.
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Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill, Burgers, Dessert, Pasta
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, Happy Hour, On-Site Parking, Patio, Sunday Brunch
Locations: Rogers and Excelsior, MN
Addresses and Maps:
Excelsior- 685 Excelsior Blvd Excelsior, MN 55331 952.470.1800
Rogers- 21415 136th Ave. N. Rogers, MN 55374 763.428.0700
Hours: Sun 10am-12am Mon-Sat 11am-1am
Links: Maynards Website
Atmosphere: The Maynards in Rogers is located in a large building about 1/4 mile from I-94. The large, open space is divided into two sides; the dining room and the bar. The dining room has both tables and booths, centered by a beautiful large stone fireplace. The lighting is dim and romantic yet the mood is lively.
The bar area takes up about half the space of the restaurant and is a very popular place to a widely-aged crowd, many of whom come to play Texas Hold ‘Em Poker on Tuesday nights or BINGO on Wednesday nights.
Maynards in Rogers also has an expansive patio area, complete with tables and a fire pit. I wish I had been able to photograph it during the day but since I was there after dark, this was the best I could do!
Menu: Appetizers at Maynards include Buffalo Wings, Szechuan Wings, BBQ Wings, Nachos (chicken or beef), Chicken Quesadilla, Szechuan Spicy Green Beans, Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, Italian Waffle Fries, Artichoke Dip, Romaine Wraps, Halibut Fingers, Walleye Fingers, Firecracker Shrimp, Buffalo Shrimp, Steak Bites, Ahi Tuna, Calamari, and Buffalo Chicken Strips. Maynard’s also offers Flatbreads, including the BBQ Chicken, Basil Tomato, and Buffalo Chicken.
Maynard’s salads include Steakhouse Salad, Buffalo Chicken, Ahi Tuna, Oriental Chicken, Chop, Frannie’s Chicken Salad (coconut crusted chicken), Caesar, Taco, Cobb, and Marine Salad (jumbo shrimp and baby shrimp).
Sandwich offerings include Pot Roast French Dip, Halibut Fish & Chips, Walleye Fish & Chips, Halibut Sandwich, Cuban, Smoked Chicken Panini, The Excelsior (turkey, ham and bacon), Walleye Sandwich, Reuben, Chicken Philly, Chicken Breast, Philly Cheese Steak, Buffalo Chicken, Veggie Wrap, Fish Taco Wrap, and Asian Chicken Wrap. All sandwiches are served with chips, or upgrade to waffle fries for $1.50.
Burgers at Maynard’s are the Pepper Burger, Garage Burger (sour cream and green olives), Patty Melt, Tillamook Cheddar Burger, California, Combo (mushroom, bacon and choice of cheese), Texas BBQ, and Turkey Burger. All burgers are served with chips, or upgrade to waffle fries for $1.50.
Sautee Entrees include Cajun Chicken Fettuccini, Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Stir Fry, Kung Pao Chicken, Chicken and Mushroom Marsala with Fettuccini, Butternut Squash Ravioli in Cranberry Butter Cream Sauce, Rigatoni with Sausage in Creamy Red Sauce, and Tortellini with Prosciutto and Mushrooms in Alfredo.
Maynard’s Entrees include Chilean Sea Bass, Orange Honey Glazed Salmon, Pan Fried Walleye, Battered Shrimp, Teriyaki Sirloin, Baby Back Ribs, Filet, Cajun Pork Chop, Tenderloin Beef Medallions, New York Strip, Filet & Shrimp Combo, and Pot Roast.
Desserts at Maynard’s are the Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake, Cheesecake, Tower Chocolate Cake ala Mode, and Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-12 Salads $10-15 Sandwiches $ Burgers $9 Sautee Entrees $12-15 Entrees $14-24 Desserts $5-9
Happy Hour:
- M-F 11am-6pm & 8pm-Close
- Reduced Price Appetizers
- Domestic Tap Specials
Weekly Specials:
Sunday Brunch:
- 10am-2pm
- Adults $14.95
- Caramel Rolls, Eggs Benedict, Bacon, Smoked Sausage, Biscuits, Hash Browns, Waffles, Apple Crisp, Shrimp Creole, Swedish Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Chicken Stir Fry, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Smoked Salmon, Cheesy Scalloped potatoes, Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit, Fresh Veggies, Szechuan Green Beans, Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Pickled Herring, Omelet Bar and Assorted Desserts.
What we ordered: There were many appetizers that sounded really good but I was in the mood for fish and the Halibut Fingers sounded very intriguing. We started with the Halibut Fingers, an order of six colossal pieces of this delicious, non-fishy fish. Each “finger” was literally almost an inch thick, breaded with a tasty batter and then deep fried to a crispy golden brown. Served with homemade tartar sauce and lemon wedges. I ate almost three of these and was seriously almost too full to touch my dinner!
Every entree come with choice of soup or salad. I had the house salad. This was a pretty basic house salad with romaine, cucumber, cherry tomato, red onion, fresh grated parmesan and buttermilk ranch.
My companion chose the Chicken Wild Rice Soup with the entree. This was a delicious choice! The soup had big chunks of white meat chicken, carrots, celery and wild rice. It was mildly seasoned yet flavorful.
Now on to the Main Course! There were many items on the menu that sounded wonderful to me, but I strayed from my usual sandwich fix to try a dish that was truly unique. Our server highly recommended the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Cranberries, a combo that caught my attention. I am so glad I tried this, it was amazing! The serving size was quite large, with probably 15 big raviolis filled with the sweet and tender butternut squash. The raviolis, along with a plentiful amount of halved cranberries, were bathed in a rich butter cream sauce. There is just something about cream and berries that was meant to be! Although this particular combo was new to my palette, the cranberries gave it a sweetness that countered the rich creaminess of the sauce. I was only able to eat about four of the raviolis before I was stuffed (they were great for lunch the next day too!)
My companion ordered the full rack of Baby Back Ribs. These ribs were also very tasty, but did not stand out as extraordinary. They were tender and flavorful, with the sauce grilled onto the meat and extra on the side. It was served with buttered toast and choice of potato.
The ribs came with choice of potato, my companion went with the Waffle Fries (with seasoned sour cream for $.50 extra). These potatoes were still somewhat soft and lightly fried. Big serving!
Our meals also came with a basket of Ciabatta Bread. I’ll just admit right now I was too full to touch the bread but it looked good!
Despite being extremely full, the thought of Key Lime Pie was pretty irresistible. When our server brought this gigantic slice of pie out to me, I nearly fainted. She laughed and told me the Key Lime was actually Maynard’s smallest dessert. Apparently the chocolate cake is the size of a big plate!
The Key Lime pie had three thick layers of filling on top of the graham cracker crust: the key lime, the cream topping and then more whipped cream. It may have stood 4-5 inches tall! The lime filling had a consistency that reminded me of custard and was as tart as it should be. Very refreshing combo of tart, sweet and creamy.
Service: We were greeted with a smile the moment we walked in and were promptly seated at a booth. Our server, Britney, did a great job of taking care of us. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent recommendations. The timing of our food was just perfect so that we were able to eat our appetizers and starters before the entrees were brought out and drinks were refilled regularly.
Overall Impression: Maynard’s has a large menu, with delicious food, and awesome service. Great place to get a quality meal with friends or to play Poker or Bingo! Try the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Cranberry Butter Cream Sauce for a unique culinary experience. I wish I lived closer so I could eat my way through the menu!
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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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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.
*****Aperitif has CLOSED as of February 2011*****
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Restaurant Features: Bar, Patio, On Site Parking, Saturday & Sunday Brunch
Location: Woodbury, MN
Address: 772 Bielenberg Drive Woodbury, MN 55125 651.578.3000
Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00 A.M.-12:00 A.M. Saturdays 4:00 P.M.-12:00A.M.
Closed Sundays.
Links: Aperitif Website * Aperitif Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Open since January 2010, Aperitif is located in a giant, 10,000+ Sq. Ft. newly-constructed building at the corner of Bielenberg Dr. and Tamarack Rd in Woodbury. I didn’t realize how big the restaurant truly was until I stepped inside the fun and artistically-decorated space. It is both long and wide, with room to seat over 200 guests. A majority of the tables are set within one big space but there are also tables around the perimeter of the room that offer more privacy. There are also a couple of large round tables that have closeable sheer curtains for a more intimate option. The decor is a collection of homemade art including murals and mosaics; even the light fixtures themselves are works-of-art.
The sophisticated yet contemporary black walnut bar runs at least half the length of the restaurant on the wall opposite the entrance. The lighting below the bar illuminates the stools in a very inviting manner. The wall has a series of colorful murals representing a contemporary Mediterranean theme and the ceiling is also very cool, a combination of wood and lights.
Soon to open, the patio area at Aperitif is a beautiful, large, bricked space complete with a two-story fireplace and fairy-lit trees. There are also several pretty flower beds and landscaping around the property. I can’t wait to go back and enjoy a drink by the fire.
Menu: Appetizers include Italian Wedding Soup, Shrimp Bisque, Salmon Cakes, Portuguese-Style Shrimp, Crispy Oysters, Spicy Sauteed Calamari, Tuna Carpaccio, Walleye Fritters, Shish Kebabs, Grilled Chorizo, Mini Sicilian Veal Meatball Sandwiches, Baby Clams and Mussels Mariscada, and the Imported Charcuterie and Cheese Board.
The salads offered at Aperitif are the Fresh Vegetable Chopped Salad, Quattro (assorted meats and cheeses), Bistecca a la Genoa (pesto glazed sirloin and bleu cheese with romaine), Grilled Caesar (with shrimp, roasted salmon or chicken), Tomato Panzanella, Rare Tuna Bistro Salad, and the String Beans & Sweet Onions.
Aperitif also offers Pizzas and Flatbreads. Pizza choices are Margarita, Bologna (sausage and prosciutto) , Caesar, Athens (ground lamb and feta) and the White Pizza (spinach pesto and trugole Italian cheese). Flatbreads include Grecian (artichokes, kalamata olives and roasted garlic), Capri, and Wild Mushroom.
Pasta dishes include Chicjen Piccata, Crispy Shrimp, Vegetable Ribbons, Veal Bolognese, Linguini Vongole and Nonni’s Meatball (with baked ziti)
Aperitif’s Executive Chef Chad Grant has created a variety of entrees with fresh ingredients that you often see in the Mediterranean region. Options include the Double Heritage Pork Chop, Turkey Porterhouse, Hanger Steak, Lamb Ossobuco, Herb Rotosserie Chicken, Flaming Shish Kebab, Panko Crusted Walleye, Cioppino, Swordfish Steak, Fillet Mignon of Tuna, Roast Salmon Verte, Shrimp Provencal, and Paillard of Chicken or Sirloin.
Desserts include Lemon Souffle, Molten Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Gelato.
Aperitif is also open Saturday and Sunday for brunch, with a condensed version of the dinner menu. View Aperitif Brunch Menu.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-15 Salads $7-18 Flatbread/Pizza $11-15 Entrees $20-29 Pasta $10-17
What we ordered: Our meal started with complimentary freshly baked foccacia bread, served hot from the oven. It was soft and light with a golden buttery-brown crust. The bread was served with an mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and freshly grated parmesan for dipping. Every bite of this bread was heavenly, it was literally the best bread this bread-lover has had in quite some time. My new favorite bread!
I love calamari and I also love spice so when I saw the Spicy Sauteed Calamari on the menu, I had to try it. Big winner! The tender calamari was cooked perfectly in a spicy tomato and wine broth along with pine nuts, currants and homemade cous cous. I loved the combination of flavors and textures and it definitely had bite. The currants added an unexpected bite of sweetness that helped offset the spice.
Prior to this visit I had never had oysters served any way other than raw, in-the-shell. Fried oysters are a completely different experience (and for me a much more enjoyable one!). The panko breading gives it a beautiful, crispiness and the oyster itself has substance. This is probably the safest way to try oysters if you want to gently get your feet wet! They came with two different sauces, a spicy vodka-cocktail sauce and a syrupy sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. Both sauces were very good but I preferred the sweet and sour.
We also tried the Shrimp Bisque, which was a zesty blended soup that had the distinct flavors of shrimp, tomato and a hint of brandy. It was topped with a slice of crustini and thin slices of breaded shrimp. The shrimp bisque was wonderful and I enjoyed what I was able to eat but wanted to save room for the main course which was yet to come.
For my entree I ordered the Lamb Ossobuco, which came highly recommended. This tender, rich lamb shank was braised in a savory broth of its own juices, and what I believe to be red wine. Mama Mia! This traditional Italian dish instantly turned me into a fan of lamb like I hadn’t believed possible. It tasted similar to beef but just a little more rich but had a depth of flavor that was not at all gamey like lamb can sometimes be. It was tender and falling off the bone, just the way braised meats should be. It was served with cheese polenta and cooked peppers, zucchini and yellow squash. If you are unfamiliar with polenta, it is a dish made from cornmeal, water and salt. The texture and taste of it is very similar to grits, but it is cooled after it is cooked so it is firm and has a slightly gelatanous feel to it.
My companion ordered the Cioppino, also by recommendation. This seafood medley was a mix of shrimp, lobster, clams, mussels, baby scallops and swordfish cooked in a flavorful but mild tomato and saffron based broth. Every bite of the seafood was tender. The dish was served with a large piece of bread in the middle, soaking up the broth. As much as I enjoyed the dish, I would have preferred my bread on the side.
For dessert we tried the Lemon Souffle, which is a frozen treat similar to ice cream but made through a different process. It was slightly creamy yet light and refreshing, with the distinct taste of natural lemon. I could eat this every day in the summer!
We also tried the Molten Chocolate Cake, which was served with chocolate gelato, roasted marshmallow cream and gram cracker crumbs. Just one forkful into this masterpiece and it is erupting with hot, molten dark chocolate. Although the cake is about the size of a serving, it is so rich that it can still be shared. The gelato, marshmallow and gram cracker crumbs weren’t necessary to make this cake a winner, but were delicious all the same. Especially if you like s’mores!
Service: We had exceptional service at Aperitif throughout our visit.
The parking lot has enough spaces to accommodate the restaurant at full capacity so it wasn’t a problem to find a spot. Reservations are accepted but not always necessary, but I did make a reservation ahead of time. Seating is arranged by the team of hostesses who were all very sweet and professional. Our server took good care of us, and had thorough knowledge of the menu and gave excellent suggestions. The food was paced so that we were able to enjoy each course without rushing to eat it before the next arrived. The General Manager was also on-hand the night of our visit and was available to provide information about the restaurant as well as suggestions from the menu. When you visit Aperitif, you know you will be well taken care of!
Overall Impression: My companion and I both thoroughly enjoyed Aperitif. The atmosphere is comfortable, yet fun and romantic all at once, and the service can’t be beat. Everything we tried from the menu was delicious, I highly recommend the Lamb Ossobuco and the spicy calamari. Aperitif also gets my vote for Best Bread. Another great feature I would like to point out is that Aperitif has a Blog that offers cooking videos and tips! Go check it out….
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Have you been out to the Walker Art Center lately? If you haven’t, you really should! You especially need to try 20.21, the Wolfgang Puck restaurant located on the 2nd floor (however you do not need to buy admission to the Walker to eat at 20.21). I recently had lunch there, on a mission to try out the new Asian-influenced menu put together by Executive Chef Asher Miller. I tried a variety of selections from the menu, which I will be highlighting here. Everything was outstanding!
Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Restaurant Features: Bar, Sunday Brunch
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: Walker Art Center – 1750 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-253-3410
Links: Wolfgang Puck Website Google Map
Hours: Wed-Sun 11:30a-2:00p
Menu:
Starters or “First Flavors” run from $7-12 and include
- Creamy Cauliflowers Soup with Toasted Almonds and Lobster
- Tandoori Arctic Char with Cardamom Raita and Bengali Tomato Chutney
- Stir-fried Chicken Lettuce Cups,
- Curried Pork Spring Rolls and Pork Pot Stickers with Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce
- Steamed Shrimp and Scallop Dumplings in a lobster sauce (pictured below in 1st photo). These seafood dumplings were the very first thing that I tried; they consisted of a steamed dumpling filled with a shrimp and scallop mixture, along with a variety of herbs. Each of the three dumplings was garnished with a sliver of red chili pepper and then topped with a pea tendrils, thinly cut strips of radish, and carrot. The dumplings were plated atop a thin layer of lobster sauce. Very good!
- Pan Toasted Pork Pot Stickers (pictured below in 2nd photo). If you like sausage, you will love these pork pot stickers! The savory sausage and herb mixture was stuffed inside the Chinese-style dumplings, which were then toasted in the pan until they were a crispy golden brown. They were served with a Chinese black vinegar, which was both sweet and rich (similar to balsamic). I love pot stickers and these were top-notch.
There are also a number of Salads ($13-16) including:
- Gulf Shrimp Cobb Salad with Applewood Smoked Bacon and Lemongrass Shallot Dressing,
- Chinese Chicken Salad with Hot & Sweet Mustard Dressing, Crispy Wontons and Candied Cashews,
- Korean Beef Short Ribs with Pea Tendril Salad and Sesame Dressing,
- Japanese Glazed Salmon Salad with Avocado, Pickled Vegetables, and Ponzu sauce (pictured below in 1st photo). If you like salmon, you can’t go wrong with this salad! The fish was cooked but still very tender, placed atop a bed of mixed field greens. Thin strips of colorful carrots, radish and Japanese seafood salad decorate the edge of the plate on one side, with slices of avocado and lemon on the other. A light, but filling salad.
- Thai Chicken Salad with Puffed Rice, Lime, and Crushed Peanut (pictured below in 2nd photo). This was a really cool and unique salad, unlike any other I have had. The chicken (all white meat) was ground into small pieces and combined with small rice puffs that were about the same size and color as the chicken. Thinly sliced strips of carrot, red cabbage, jalapeños, lettuce and toasted peanuts were mixed in with the chicken and rice puffs, then the salad was tossed with a citrus-chili vinaigrette. I loved the combination of textures in this salad, it was both tender from the chicken and slightly crunchy from the rice puffs, peanuts and veggies. It had a nice kick to it from the jalapeños and the citrus-chili vinaigrette, but was also light and fresh. Delicious!
Burger and Sandwich ($14-22) Options:
- American Beef Burger (with Aged Cheddar and French Fries)
- Maine Lobster Club (with a Bacon Vinaigarette served on Toasted Pecan-Cranberry bread
- Chicken Salad Croissant (served with Sweet Potato Fries)
- “Banh Mi” Pork Sandwich (pictured below). The Banh Mi is a Vietnamese-influenced sandwich that starts with a French roll and then a layer of pork-based country-style pâté, with stacked thinly sliced pieces of pork tenderloin, then topped with pickled onion, cilantro and carrot. There was also a semi-sweet creamy sauce. I had never had a Banh Mi sandwich before but thought it was a very interesting combination of flavors. It was served with golden fried fingerling potatoes.
20.21 also offers three different Bento Boxes, all of which are served with Tempura Asparagus and Miso Soup ($12-15):
- The Duck Confit with Chow Fun Rice Noodles and Stir Fried Vegetables
- Golden Curried Tofu with Peppers, Coconut Rice.
- Korean Style Beef Short Ribs and Hunan Glazed Eggplant (pictured below). The beef was tender and spicy, with a peppery dipping sauce suggestively placed in the same section of the Bento Box. The eggplant was cooked until soft and had a sweetness to it from the Hunan glaze. The asparagus was fried with a tempura batter and came with the most fabulous spicy green cilantro dipping sauce. Loved that! The miso soup was also very good.
Main Dish ($14-20) offerings include:
- Steamed “Hong Kong Style” Atlantic Salmon (with Bok Choy, Szechuan Chili Oil and Jasmine Rice)
- Drunken Chow Fun (with Rich Noodles, Basil and Peanuts)
- Green Thai Seafood Curry (Prawns and Sea Scallops)
- Pan Roasted Chicken (Snap Peas, Carrot-Ginger Puree, and Caramel Soy Sauce)
- “Signapore Style” Street Noodles with Masala Braised Short Ribs. This may have been my favorite dish of the many I tried. I loved the texture of the homemade noodles which were thick and hearty, stir-fried with a spicy cooking oil of some kind. The beef was so tender and full of flavor from being braised with a curry masala sauce. Along with beef and noodles there were stir-fried veggies including spring peas, onions, mushrooms, and asparagus. This dish was very filling and the portion size was quite big.
The dessert menu ($5-10) is brought to you by Pastry Chef Corinne Sherbert and includes:
- Assorted Miniature Cookies (Yuzu Bar, 5 Spice Cheesecake Brownie, Orange Pound Cake)
- Ice Creams & Sorbets (Spicy Almond, Olive Oil, Lemongrass, Orange all with assorted sauces)
- Spoon, Cube and Cherry (pictured below). This dessert is so much fun! Inspired by the famous sculpture Spoonbridge and Cherry in the Walker’s Sculpture Garden, this cube of dark chocolate contains a hidden treasure inside. Chocolate cream and bite- sized pieces of German chocolate cake are what await inside the dark chocolate walls. The spoon is made of a light chocolate cookie crisp. I recommend this be shared!
20.21 also offers a variety of specialty cocktails including this Hemmingway Martini, made with Ketel One vodka, grapefruit juice and fresh lime. Very light and refreshing!
Overall Impression: We had excellent service at 20.21 but the food is what called out to me. Executive Chef Asher Miller has wisely created a menu with a very nice selection of Asian-inspired items, with something to please nearly everyone. The prices are also very reasonable for an upscale fine-dining establishment.
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This is an update to the original review I wrote in March 2007. Time for an update!
Cuisine: Italian
Restaurant Features: Bar, Live Music, Nightclub, Sunday Brunch, Student Discount
Location: Minneapolis, MN (Dinkytown)
Address: 327 14th Av. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55414 612.378.4849
Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30 a-9p Fri – Sat: 11:30 a- 11p Sunday: 11a-9p
Links: Loring Pasta Bar Website * Loring Pasta Bar on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The inside of the Loring Pasta Bar is not only super cool, but breath-taking and romantic as well. Located inside a beautifully renovated building in Dinkytown (formerly known as Gray’s Drug Store) , the Loring Pasta Bar is an amazing site to see. Ceilings are 2-3 stories high, with an upper-eating area overlooking the court-yard style main dining room. Large trees and beautiful plants line the perimeter (glass windows are often opened or removed during summer months to really give you the feeling of eating outdoors.). They also have live music every night from 6-9pm, usually in the form of a jazz band.
Besides having additional tables for dining in the upper level, there is also this cute little romantic lounge.
Menu: Appetizers include Artichoke Ramekin, Ciabatta Bruschetta, Fried Calamari, Pan Fried Potstickers, and Spicy Tuna Sushi Roll.
Salad options are the House Salad, Caesar Salad, and Salade Sauvage.
Pastas on the menu seem to change frequently and may include Beef Shortribs Farfalle, Fettuccini Carbonara, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Roasted Chicken and Mozzarella Ravioli, Linguini with Clam Sauce, Mushroom Penne, Cheese Tortellini Classico, Cheese Tortellini Nuovi, and Mac N Cheese.
Menu entrees also seem to change at least seasonally and may include items such as Seared Sea Scallops, South American Beef Tips, Grilled Salmon, New York Strip, Beef Tenderloin, Osso Buco (Braised Veal), Blackened Catfish, and Shrimp or Chicken Vegetable Stir-Fry.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-9 Salads $5-7 Pasta $13-17 Entrees $16-23
Student Discount of 30% with Valid Student I.D. (Excluded 6-9pm Fri & Sat)
Special Events:
- Salsa Dancing every Friday and Saturday night 10pm $8/10 (18+)
- Live Music from 6-9pm every day
Sunday Brunch Buffet: $10.95/Students $15.95/Adults
- Items change weekly but always include a variety of breakfast items, lunch items, pastas, desserts and fresh fruits.
What we ordered: We started with an order of Bruschetta, a savory mix of roasted red peppers, chopped golden tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella, topped with a balsamic sauce, all sitting on little toasts of ciabatta. The four pieces didn’t go far but everyone enjoyed it.
I ordered the Cheese Tortellini Nuovi after much deliberation and asking the server for suggestions. A pleasant choice! The bowl-sized portion of tortellini was bathed in an enticing cream sauce, rich in flavor from a mix of spices. The pasta was topped with sliced prosciutto and toasted pine nuts, a symphony of textures. Oh Heavenly pasta!
One of my companions ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll, a large order of 9 pieces. The roll had raw tuna, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, carrot and rice. Served with a side of edamame ( wasabi and ginger too, of course!)
Another companion ordered the Roasted Chicken with Mozzarella Ravioli. The raviolis are hand-made and tossed in a Napolitana sauce (concassed tomatoes, roasted garlic, basil, and extra virgin olive oil). The bowl was topped with a serving of roasted chicken and freshly grated cheese.
We were celebrating a birthday that night and so one of my companions enjoyed this Chocolate Souffle with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Service: It was very busy on this Saturday night and parking can be scarce; options are metered parking or pay lots. I ended up parking in a lot a few blocks away. We had a reservation for a fairly large group and they were able to seat us all promptly. Our server was really efficient at serving a large group. Our visit extended over a couple of hours as we enjoyed our food and company, with food and drink served throughout the time.
Overall Impression: I enjoyed my visit to the Loring Pasta Bar just as much (if not more) than my first visit three years ago. The atmosphere is really cool and they have a variety of pastas and entrees on the menu. Seems like it would be a cool place to come for Salsa dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.
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