Any fabulous restaurants in Minneapolis, MN?

[mikki]

I have always gotten the most useful feedback from the forum for not only bike-related things, but also when going out of my neighborhood (southern California).

I am attending a National Massage Convention next week in Minneapolis, Mn and wonder if there are any locals on the forum who can suggest great restaurants? Already hooked up with a bike shop (new one I guess...) to rent a bike and see the city up-close and personal!

Thanks.

[Hard Fit]

you should check out the Twin Cities Bicycle Club.

http://www.biketcbc.org/

[cadence90]

PM or email Curt Goodrich (http://www.curtgoodrich.com/).

He lives there and has written about a Mpls. chef friend of his over at VSalon. I think the restaurant is called Craftsman. Curt may have other recommendations, since he seems to know the food scene there pretty well.

Minneapolis is a very cool city.

[Blue Jays]

Town Talk Diner
2707 1/2 E Lake St
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-722-1312
http://www.towntalkdiner.com/

[KeithS]

My wife and I like:

Masa - "Contemporary Mexican Quisine" www.masa-restaurant.com or anything else by D'Amico and Partners
Brits - great bar, good food. They have Bodingtons on tap, nuff said. Within stumbling distance from the Convention Center.
Bar LaGrassa - in the warehouse district - down by the new ballpark - Great Italian
Hells Kitchen - Great breakfast! 9th and Marquette, very convenient to the Convention Center and the adjacent hotels. I saw Bobby Flay there once when I was having breakfast. It's a chef owned restaurant, favorite of many foodies.
The Blue Door - Just get on the greenway and head east, cross the river and ride east on Marshall to Victoria, right around the corner at 1811 Selby. They feature a regional specialty (I think) the Juicy Lucy. Probably start some local conflict because I didn't suggest Matts or The 58 for the Juicy Lucy. It is a hamburger formed around cheese then prepared. It takes a little getting used to biting into molten cheese oozing out of a burger. My favorite is the Juicy Blucy, blue cheese variant. The fries are good too. www.thebluedoorpub.com

You probably want to map that last one out. The Greenway is a great place to ride. It was a rail corridor and now is a paved dedicated cycling route. it runs east west just a block north of Lake Street, you're going to be a couple of miles north of it, you can get good information at almost any bike shop. If you are staying anywhere around the convention center you should try the Grand Rounds ride. My favorite urban ride is Greenway from the west, cross the river into St. Paul and then down Summit Avenue in St. Paul to the Capital. There is a great seafood restaurant (not kidding) adjacent to a section of the Grand Rounds and next to Minnehaha falls. It's called Salt.

The Town Talk Diner is a favorite too. It's a block off the Greenway. Very convenient. Fueled many a ride at the Town Talk.

PM me if your looking for any other specific local info.

Here is a helpful link to some maps and cycling information.

http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicycles/where-to-ride.asp

Enjoy, this is one of my favorite times of year here the weather this week has been perfect and it is supposed to be beautiful next week too.

Keith

[Ken Robb]

Hell's Kitchen is a MUST for breakfast. I think they also do lunch but no dinner.
Bank is high-end in the fabulous art deco former lobby of Farmers and Merchants Bank. The food is good and the wine list is dandy. Worth multiple visits on our last two times in Minneapolis.

[dimsy]

i spent quite some time in Minneapolis. I tried Stella's for seafood and it was great. Also Ike's had some good food too.

[srsoltis]

One of my new favorites is the Caspian Bistro near the new Gophers' football stadium. The food is excellent, prices are very good, and atmosphere is relaxing.

They don't sell alcohol but allow you to bring your own.

http://twincities.citysearch.com/profile/5588461/minneapolis_mn/caspian_bistro_restaurant.html

[mikki]

You guys are the best!!

I am staying at a hotel across from the convention center and will take all of your responses so I can plan things out when I get there.

I am so excited that the weather looks promising! Some of my clients out here said that the colors may even be changing a bit; is that so? It will be so nice to see a place with REAL SEASONS!! I also understand Minneapolis is second only to Portland in being bike-friendly.

[spiderman]

al's breakfast...
ride there
be willing to stand in line
enjoy!

smalley's club '87
prior to seeing the twins
for the homestand...7 up with 10 home games left??
the a's f/s/s
the indians m/t/w

[batman1425]

I'm not from Minneapolis, but I've eaten at Chino Latino every time I've gone up there. Great international cuisine from the "hot zone", basically any kind of street food you can find with in 20 Degrees of the equator. Not the cheapest place ever, but amazing food. Make sure you make reservations ahead of time though, very popular place.

[rpm]

Mikki--

If you have time and money for a nice night out, try the Sea Change restaurant at the Guthrie, and then go see The Scottsboro Boys. It's outstanding.

http://www.guthrietheater.org/scottsboroboys

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/travel/04bites.html?scp=1&sq=Sea%20Change&st=cse