Thursday, November 15, 2007

Kabob & Curry

Date visited: Thursday, November 15

I met a friend at Kabob & Curry (8085 Wedgewood Lane N., Maple Grove; 763.416.2224) for lunch today. We got to the restaurant around 11:30 a.m. for the lunch buffet, and unfortunately we were the only diners there. A few more people came in during our hour and a half at the restaurant, but it was the quietest experience I've ever had at a Maple Grove restaurant.

The buffet food was good, and it was a nice selection considering the lack of diners, but next time I'd order something off the menu. I also enjoyed my chai tea, which was completely unsweetened, unlike the stuff you're likely to find at the Caribou Coffee two doors down. Although the restaurant is in a strip mall, it doesn't feel like a strip restaurant on the inside with its brightly painted walls and subtle decor. The service was excellent. If you're in MG, make sure to stop by.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Superpost: Masa, Good Earth, Panera Bread, Turtle Bread Company & Majors Sports Cafe

Let's not waste our time discussing what a pathetic blogger I am, okay? I've been bad, I know it. And I even have a list of excuses, but they're not important. Here's what I would've blogged about if I'd had my wits about me in the past couple months:

Masa (1070 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis; 612.338.6272): I was there a few weeks ago for a Sunday night dinner with a large group of people, and I didn't really want to call attention to my dietary restrictions. After carefully studying the menu, I realized my dinner option was a boring salad. I didn't even spot an easily convertible option, so when the waiter came by, I asked him which menu item he'd recommend for a vegetarian (so much for blending in). He suggested the Vegetarian Enchiladas, which apparently is a super secret menu item that they don't list. But if you go, you should order it. The enchiladas were fabulous. Don't be afraid to ask.

Good Earth (3460 Galleria, Edina; 952.925.1001): Along those same "don't be afraid to ask" lines, I'm a huge fan of the Good Earth (the one in Edina, not the one in Roseville -- I'm not sure why it matters, but it does). Anyway, I love the Planet Burger (a vegetarian option that doesn't involve anything Boca or Gardenburger), the vegetarian enchiladas, the nachos, the veggie sandwiches and pretty much all the salads. But when I stopped by there this evening, all I wanted was the Harvest Wrap, with it's yams and wild rice and craisins. The only problem: the Harvest Wrap comes with turkey. So I nicely asked the waiter to leave out the turkey and add in a Planet Burger. It was a little salty, but it still tasted pretty great.

Panera Bread
(umm, everywhere): Since I frequently find myself in the 'burbs and in need of a wireless connection, I frequently find myself dining at Panera Bread. And lately, I frequently find myself ordering the Orchard Harvest salad. It has dried cherries, fresh pears, toasted pecans, Gorgonzola cheese, cherry balsamic vinaigrette and some greens, too, and it's wonderful.

Turtle Bread Company (4762 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612.823.7333): Last Thursday I took a very sniffly boy to Turtle Bread for some yummy -- and I like to believe medicinal -- soup. I was thrilled to see that six of the nine soup options were vegetarian or vegan. Usually I don't experience menu stress (more than two veggie options is unusual on most menus), so it was a nice change of pace. I ordered the Corn Bisque, and it turned out to be a good choice. But I'll be back again soon -- hopefully without the sniffles.

Majors Sports Cafe (2801 Snelling Ave. N., Roseville; 651.379.1180): I usually associate Majors as my disgruntled-with-work afternoon happy hour one-stop-shop (there's one near my office), but when I was dragged to an oh-so-depressing Vikings game last Sunday, I was happy to learn that they have a Boca Burger on their menu. I ordered it with mushrooms and swiss cheese, and it was as satisfying as anything you'd order at a place that refers to itself as a "sports cafe."