Minneapolis Saint Paul Official Visitors Guide to the Twin Cities 2013 : Page 18

Dining Destination WHERE TO EAT From street eats to first-class cuisine, check out what trendy dining options are available for the tasting. Pizzeria LoLa Pizza While local pizzerias may have out-of-state influences, there’s no reason to travel outside of Minneapolis Saint Paul for a great slice. After appear-ing on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives , business at Pizzeria Lola exploded, but it’s the perfected crust and toppings that keeps customers coming back for more. Order something familiar or an unusual combination like the lady zaza made with Kimchi and Korean sausage. Abiding by the anatomy of a Neapolitan pizza—fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and flame-blackened blisters—each of Punch Neapolitan Pizza ’s seven metro locations serves authentic wood-fired pizzas. Choose one of their combinations or craft your own, adding ingredients to either a Napoli or Margherita base. With six metro locations, Pizza Luce is a trendy pizza joint known for its innovative combinations. Try a baked potato pizza, shrimp al pesto, or build your own adding cheeses, meats, seafood or meat substitutes. For a truly American pizza experience, bite into a slice made the same way it was in the first pizza ovens—with coal. Black Sheep Pizza was the first coal-burning pizza restaurant in the state and has a spot on the Food Network’s 50 States, 50 Pizzas list. Food Trucks Pubs Food Truck courT For a truly European experience, order up a plate of fish and chips, sip on a pint of Guinness or a glass of 2 Gingers whiskey and take a seat at one of these local pubs. In addition to Irish classics, The Local serves American and Minnesotan dishes as well. After doing a jig or a reel to the live Irish music at Kieran’s Irish Pub , grab a bite of their corned beef brisket or chili glazed trout. In Saint Paul, gather at The Liffey and enjoy beer tossed or brined meats. Head to the English garden park at Brit’s Pub and dine on their famous scotch eggs or shepherd’s pie before taking up a game of lawn bowling on their rooftop green. Or, for a taste of a Minnesotan Juicy Lucy, head on over to the popular Blue Door Pub in Saint Paul. 18 | Minneapolis Saint Paul Official Visitors Guide 2013 FOOd Truck PhOTO by Sidecar; OT her PhOTOS by TOdd buchanan Great food doesn’t have to be served sitting down. Here, many skilled chefs have traded in their kitchens for food trucks, taking their fresh and innovative dishes to the streets. The guys behind Saffron Restaurant are also the masterminds behind the international cuisine found at World Street Kitchen . The seasonal menu is ever changing, but expect to see items like spinach pie, lamb barbacoa tacos and kofta meatball sandwiches. By night you’ll find Smack Shack taking over the kitchen at 1029 bar, but by day you’ll find the truck in Minneapolis serving up lobster rolls and shrimp and sausage po’boys. With a spot on Forbes ’ list of Elite Street Eats, Chef Shack serves creative foods whose ingredients come from family farms and co-ops in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Try the Indian-spiced mini donuts or grass-fed bison burgers. Close to 25 food trucks participate in Saint Paul’s Food Truck Court and serve up delicious eats in three different areas of the city three days a week. The LocaL

Dining

WHERE TO EAT From street eats to first-class cuisine, check out what trendy dining options are available for the tasting. Pizza While local pizzerias may have out-of-state influences, there’s no reason to travel outside of Minneapolis Saint Paul for a great slice. After appearing on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, business at Pizzeria Lola exploded, but it’s the perfected crust and toppings that keeps customers coming back for more. Order something familiar or an unusual combination like the lady zaza made with Kimchi and Korean sausage. Abiding by the anatomy of a Neapolitan pizza—fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and flame-blackened blisters—each of Punch Neapolitan Pizza’s seven metro locations serves authentic wood-fired pizzas. Choose one of their combinations or craft your own, adding ingredients to either a Napoli or Margherita base. With six metro locations, Pizza Luce is a trendy pizza joint known for its innovative combinations. Try a baked potato pizza, shrimp al pesto, or build your own adding cheeses, meats, seafood or meat substitutes. For a truly American pizza experience, bite into a slice made the same way it was in the first pizza ovens—with coal. Black Sheep Pizza was the first coal-burning pizza restaurant in the state and has a spot on the Food Network’s 50 States, 50 Pizzas list. Food Trucks Great food doesn’t have to be served sitting down. Here, many skilled chefs have traded in their kitchens for food trucks, taking their fresh and innovative dishes to the streets. The guys behind Saffron Restaurant are also the masterminds behind the international cuisine found at World Street Kitchen. The seasonal menu is ever changing, but expect to see items like spinach pie, lamb barbacoa tacos and kofta meatball sandwiches. By night you’ll find Smack Shack taking over the kitchen at 1029 bar, but by day you’ll find the truck in Minneapolis serving up lobster rolls and shrimp and sausage po’boys. With a spot on Forbes’ list of Elite Street Eats, Chef Shack serves creative foods whose ingredients come from family farms and co-ops in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Try the Indian-spiced mini donuts or grassfed bison burgers. Close to 25 food trucks participate in Saint Paul’s Food Truck Court and serve up delicious eats in three different areas of the city three days a week. Pubs For a truly European experience, order up a plate of fish and chips, sip on a pint of Guinness or a glass of 2 Gingers whiskey and take a seat at one of these local pubs. In addition to Irish classics, The Local serves American and Minnesotan dishes as well. After doing a jig or a reel to the live Irish music at Kieran’s Irish Pub, grab a bite of their corned beef brisket or chili glazed trout. In Saint Paul, gather at The Liffey and enjoy beer tossed or brined meats. Head to the English garden park at Brit’s Pub and dine on their famous scotch eggs or shepherd’s pie before taking up a game of lawn bowling on their rooftop green. Or, for a taste of a Minnesotan Juicy Lucy, head on over to the popular Blue Door Pub in Saint Paul. Patios & Rooftops When it comes to dining, there’s almost nothing better than enjoying delicious eats while also savoring great Minnesota weather. Eat in the midst of flowers, trees and lush greenery on the private garden patio at WA Frost and Company, an American eatery that offers an award-winning wine selection and seasonally changing menu. For a view of the Mississippi River, grab a seat out on the deck at Tugg’s Tavern. Listen to some live music, sip on some fresh squeezed lemonade and try one of their signature stuffed burgers. At Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group, choose to eat street side or take the Sky Car (elevator) to the rooftop for an aerial view of Minneapolis. In the heart of Uptown you’ll also find Stella’s Fish Café and Prestige Oyster Bar. This contemporary seafood restaurant has a stellar rooftop deck where you can feast on their fresh fish, lobster, king crab legs or oysters on the half shell. In downtown Minneapolis, dine on some authentic Spanish tapas on Solera’s patio terrace. Order up some paella, pair it with a glass of Sangria and relish in the panoramic view of the city. Twin Cities dining is taken to a new level at Union, where you can eat year-round under the retractable rooftop, the only of its kind in Minnesota. New Spots Part of what makes our dining scene so great is that it’s ever changing. There are consistently new spots that contend with the staples, including this past year when even more deliciousness was added to the scene. Carnivores are herding to Butcher and the Boar, the self-proclaimed “American craft food and bourbon house” that lives up to its name, serving a massive amount of bourbon and a menu comprised mostly of meats. Harriet Brasserie is the newest eatery in the Linden Hills neighborhood. Here colorful, fresh and simple dishes are served using a seamless blend of American, Brazilian and French influences.The culinary talent uses their worldly methods to serve brunch and dinner daily. In 2009, Figlio closed its doors in Uptown after a 25 year run. Last fall, under new ownership, the Italian eatery was reborn in a new home in St. Louis Park. Signature fare has returned, while new Northern Italian and Mediterranean-inspired flavors have also been introduced. Birdhouse, the newest venture for Heidi and Stewart Woodman, the minds behind famed Heidi’s Restaurant, opened on Hennepin Avenue serving healthy, every day, all day options for the entire family. Try the lamb burger, sweet pea pate, mushroom terrine or wild rice pancakes. Fine Dining Treat yourself to some fabulous and fancy food at one of the area’s fine dining restaurants. Manny’s Steakhouse at the W Minneapolis-The Foshay serves dry-aged, center-cut beef that is hand trimmed by their master butchers. Start off with some oysters Rockefeller, feast on a porterhouse steak and then indulge in an order of whiskey bread pudding. Owned by James Beard Award-winning chef Tim McKee, La Belle Vie believes that “good food is always personal.” Choose to eat in the elegant dining room, or grab a bite in the more informal lounge.At Restaurant Alma you’ll find fellow James Beard Awardwinning chef Alexander Roberts. The menu changes every six to eight weeks, offering a mix of new and signature dishes that highlight local and organic ingredients. For some of the best seafood around, head to the Oceanaire Seafood Room where it’s flown in fresh daily from around the world. Dine in the elegant 1930s-style dining room or take a seat at the grand oyster and beverage bar. The St. Paul Grill pairs impeccable service with delicious dishes, as well fine wine, whiskey and scotch to boot.

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