Date visited: Friday, April 20
I actually visit the Highland Grill (771 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul; 651.690.1173) a lot. So much so that my friends exchange knowing looks when I suggest it, and it's the place I take almost every out-of-town visitor.
Why am I so obsessed with it? Because it's fairly close to my house, it's casual and the food is always awesome. Plus the menu is so wide-ranging, there's usually something for everyone.
I've eaten just about every vegetarian offering on the menu. Last night I tried the Eggplant Parmesan, and it didn't disappoint. Thin slices of eggplant were battered and fried, layered with fresh mozzarella and topped with a tasty tomato sauce -- no noodles necessary. A side salad rounded out the meal. This was truly a perfect meal because my dinner companion ordered the sweet potato fries with his burger, and he graciously offered to share them with me.
The sweet potato fries deserve their own paragraph. They're wonderful -- not too thick or two thin. There's usually not crunchy either, unless they get cooked a little to long, but they taste great either way. They come with some sort of aioli, which I'm not a fan of but everyone else who tries it seems to think it's the best thing ever.
My perfect meal at the Highland Grill is a veggie burger, which is served with roasted tomatoes, white bean spread and goat cheese. I always order it with the sweet potato fries.
I've also had the egg salad sandwich, which is solid and not overly exciting. I'm not a fan of the grilled cheese, but that's only because I can't fully embrace the tomato chutney that comes in it. The tomato chutney is the menu's most divisive item -- you will love it or you'll be absolutely disgusted by it. Most likely your server will warn you when you order the grilled cheese.
The portabella burger is wonderful. The squash and mushroom risotto is excellent (although sometimes a little on the oily side). I can also recommend the Balsamic Spinach Salad and the Goat Cheese Salad.
And then there's breakfast. I won't wax on about the breakfast, mainly because you must already get the picture that I like this place. Yes, the breakfast is good, too.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Colossal Cafe
Date visited: Saturday, April 7
Okay, I'm embarrassed that it's taken me so long to update, but I'm even more embarrassed that it's taken me so long to visit this restaurant. I've been driving by for months, noting it's presence, wondering what's inside and then debating whether it's a good dive or a bad dive. It doesn't look like much from the outside.
But once inside I quickly learned that the Colossal Cafe (1839 42nd St. E.) is good, and it's not a dive. It's also incredibly small (so not colossal!). I took one look at the pastry case and I wanted to try everything. I took one look at the menu and I want to eat it all (well, the stuff without meat anyway).
I settled on the pancakes with apples, walnuts and slices of Brie cheese. My favorite breakfast companion ordered a mushroom and spinach omelet with provolone cheese. We sat at the counter facing the window to 42nd street and ate off each other's plate. I couldn't decide which breakfast I liked more. And even though we're both good eaters and even though we were both hungry, we still couldn't eat everything on our plate.
Yet I still wanted to try a savory scone (with bleu cheese, broccoli and scallions) or a cinnamon role. I just didn't have the appetite, so I'll have to go back. And this time I won't waste months debating the decision.
Okay, I'm embarrassed that it's taken me so long to update, but I'm even more embarrassed that it's taken me so long to visit this restaurant. I've been driving by for months, noting it's presence, wondering what's inside and then debating whether it's a good dive or a bad dive. It doesn't look like much from the outside.
But once inside I quickly learned that the Colossal Cafe (1839 42nd St. E.) is good, and it's not a dive. It's also incredibly small (so not colossal!). I took one look at the pastry case and I wanted to try everything. I took one look at the menu and I want to eat it all (well, the stuff without meat anyway).
I settled on the pancakes with apples, walnuts and slices of Brie cheese. My favorite breakfast companion ordered a mushroom and spinach omelet with provolone cheese. We sat at the counter facing the window to 42nd street and ate off each other's plate. I couldn't decide which breakfast I liked more. And even though we're both good eaters and even though we were both hungry, we still couldn't eat everything on our plate.
Yet I still wanted to try a savory scone (with bleu cheese, broccoli and scallions) or a cinnamon role. I just didn't have the appetite, so I'll have to go back. And this time I won't waste months debating the decision.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Modern Cafe
Date visited: Friday, March 30
I had read something about the Modern Cafe's (337 13th Ave. NE; 612.378.9882) amazing pot roast, so I suggested the cafe to my date, who is a serious meat-eater. We got there around 7:30 p.m. Friday night, and the place was packed, but we got a booth within 15 minutes and the service was great. (The cafe's retro decor is fun, and there was an interesting quote from MLK Jr. neatly written on to a black board with a beer and wine list.)
After glancing over the one sheet menu with about a half-dozen entrees, we decided to skip appetizers -- everything looked filling. We ordered beers (they have Bell's Two Hearted, but I was feeling like an Amstel Light), and dinner: pot roast and gnocchi with spinach, olives and smoked mozzarella. (I'm sure you can figure out who had what.)
The pot roast got rave reviews (and it did look good -- it was served on top of mashed potatoes and vegetables). The gnocchi was awesome. It came with a little tomato sauce, and the spinach was just wilted -- not over-cooked.
We ended the meal with a chocolate pudding topped with espresso whipped cream that will go down in dessert history for being so amazingly rich and chocolately. Over all it was a good place (although there was only one vegetarian entree on the menu). Just make sure to save room for dessert.
I had read something about the Modern Cafe's (337 13th Ave. NE; 612.378.9882) amazing pot roast, so I suggested the cafe to my date, who is a serious meat-eater. We got there around 7:30 p.m. Friday night, and the place was packed, but we got a booth within 15 minutes and the service was great. (The cafe's retro decor is fun, and there was an interesting quote from MLK Jr. neatly written on to a black board with a beer and wine list.)
After glancing over the one sheet menu with about a half-dozen entrees, we decided to skip appetizers -- everything looked filling. We ordered beers (they have Bell's Two Hearted, but I was feeling like an Amstel Light), and dinner: pot roast and gnocchi with spinach, olives and smoked mozzarella. (I'm sure you can figure out who had what.)
The pot roast got rave reviews (and it did look good -- it was served on top of mashed potatoes and vegetables). The gnocchi was awesome. It came with a little tomato sauce, and the spinach was just wilted -- not over-cooked.
We ended the meal with a chocolate pudding topped with espresso whipped cream that will go down in dessert history for being so amazingly rich and chocolately. Over all it was a good place (although there was only one vegetarian entree on the menu). Just make sure to save room for dessert.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)