Date visited: Saturday, June 9
I've been meaning to update all week, but I've also been wrestling with one of my mom's favorite axioms, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Because I don't have much that's nice to say about Pracna on Main (117 Main St. SE, Minneapolis; 612.379.3200).
I visited the restaurant last Saturday with a friend, and while we thoroughly enjoyed the view, a walk along the Stone Arch Bridge and quietly mocking the humans on a stick, the food, service and prices at Pracna did not put me in a good mood.
To start, I had few option on the menu, and they were all the usual suspects (grilled cheese, veggie sandwich and pasta primavera). I chose the grilled cheese because at $9, it was the cheapest menu item, and none of my options sounded too good to me.
Now, I'm willing to pay for a good food experience -- when the ambiance and the flavors and the service all come together to form a legendary meal, the bill is worth it. But $9 for luke-warm grilled cheese and slightly stale waffle fries is definitely not worth it -- even for the view. I won't be in a hurry to go back, unless I'm in the mood for taking in a view with a few drinks (the bar did have a fairly extensive drink menu) and mocking the Segway riders.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
True Thai
Date visited: Wednesday, June 6
The first time I went to True Thai (2627 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis; 612.375.9942) I wasn't too impressed with the food. I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu, and it was good, but not exactly special. I was happy with the beer menu, which featured a bunch of selections from Bell's Brewery.
I went back to the restaurant this week expecting an average experience, but I was happily surprised when I ordered the red curry with kabocha squash. It was flavorful, kicky and a little sweet. It also helped that I started the meal with some of the freshest egg rolls I've ever had -- they were hot and crispy, and the vegetables inside weren't over-cooked. Excellent. It should also be noted that almost every dish on the menu is vegetarian-friendly.
In some unhappy restaurant news, I was stuck in the suburbs for lunch about a week ago, and my only nearby food options were chain restaurants located in strip malls. I decided to try Chin's Asia Fresh because I had never been there before. What a mistake. I ordered the Thai Peanut Stir-Fry with Tofu and fried rice. The Thai Peanut sauce was over-powering and spicier than typical chain fare, and it came with tough little nuggets of tofu. The fried rice was greasy and bland. Yuck. I won't be going back -- ever.
The first time I went to True Thai (2627 Franklin Avenue East, Minneapolis; 612.375.9942) I wasn't too impressed with the food. I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu, and it was good, but not exactly special. I was happy with the beer menu, which featured a bunch of selections from Bell's Brewery.
I went back to the restaurant this week expecting an average experience, but I was happily surprised when I ordered the red curry with kabocha squash. It was flavorful, kicky and a little sweet. It also helped that I started the meal with some of the freshest egg rolls I've ever had -- they were hot and crispy, and the vegetables inside weren't over-cooked. Excellent. It should also be noted that almost every dish on the menu is vegetarian-friendly.
In some unhappy restaurant news, I was stuck in the suburbs for lunch about a week ago, and my only nearby food options were chain restaurants located in strip malls. I decided to try Chin's Asia Fresh because I had never been there before. What a mistake. I ordered the Thai Peanut Stir-Fry with Tofu and fried rice. The Thai Peanut sauce was over-powering and spicier than typical chain fare, and it came with tough little nuggets of tofu. The fried rice was greasy and bland. Yuck. I won't be going back -- ever.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Fat Lorenzo's
Date visited: Thursday, May 31
I haven't ever really eaten at Fat Lorenzo's (5600 Cedar Ave. S, 612.822.2040). I've never ordered the pizza, hoagies or pasta or even sampled the salad.
But I have visited the restaurant twice in the last week because I love gelato, and Fat Lorenzo's happens to have an amazing selection of it. I discovered the restaurant last Friday, after eating at the nearby 5-8 Club. A group of us strolled in -- lured by the homemade gelato sign -- and we weren't disappointed. I devoured my cup of creamy gelato with chocolate chunks and swiped a few scoops of strawberry from my date.
Last night we walked back, and tried the strawberry-papaya (sweetly satisfying) and the kiwi-starfruit (refreshingly tart). I have a feeling we'll be back soon, and maybe one of these days I'll get around to eating dinner before I indulge in dessert.
I haven't ever really eaten at Fat Lorenzo's (5600 Cedar Ave. S, 612.822.2040). I've never ordered the pizza, hoagies or pasta or even sampled the salad.
But I have visited the restaurant twice in the last week because I love gelato, and Fat Lorenzo's happens to have an amazing selection of it. I discovered the restaurant last Friday, after eating at the nearby 5-8 Club. A group of us strolled in -- lured by the homemade gelato sign -- and we weren't disappointed. I devoured my cup of creamy gelato with chocolate chunks and swiped a few scoops of strawberry from my date.
Last night we walked back, and tried the strawberry-papaya (sweetly satisfying) and the kiwi-starfruit (refreshingly tart). I have a feeling we'll be back soon, and maybe one of these days I'll get around to eating dinner before I indulge in dessert.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Laura's Candy
Happy Memorial Day! In honor of the official kick-off to summer, I'm devoting today to marshmallows. If you're like me, you've never thought too much about the fluffy processed pillows of sugar (which by the way are not vegetarian -- I know and I don't care; I eat gummi bears, too). They all tasted pretty much the same; there was no real reason to be picky about brands or sizes or even "flavors."
But then I tasted the handmade marshmallows from a mother of five named Laura. Laura's marshmallows are amazing. They come in all sorts of crazy flavors, like lavender/lemon and black jelly bean.
I picked up a pack of vanilla and a pack of double dark chocolate the last time I was at the Wedge and while they're not cheap ($5 for 8), they are memorable. I've been roasting them over a fire the last few nights, and they make melty, gooey s'mores. They don't puff up and toast like processed marshmallows, instead they literally melt off the stick. But if you can catch a marshmallow on a graham cracker before it's fiery descent, you'll become a believer (or, yes, a marshmallow snob).
But then I tasted the handmade marshmallows from a mother of five named Laura. Laura's marshmallows are amazing. They come in all sorts of crazy flavors, like lavender/lemon and black jelly bean.
I picked up a pack of vanilla and a pack of double dark chocolate the last time I was at the Wedge and while they're not cheap ($5 for 8), they are memorable. I've been roasting them over a fire the last few nights, and they make melty, gooey s'mores. They don't puff up and toast like processed marshmallows, instead they literally melt off the stick. But if you can catch a marshmallow on a graham cracker before it's fiery descent, you'll become a believer (or, yes, a marshmallow snob).
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Hot Plate
Date visited: Sunday, May 27
It's that time of year when everything is beautiful. As I sat on the patio at Hot Plate (5204 Bloomington Ave., 612.824.4794), enjoying a cup of coffee, the scent of lilacs wafting in the breeze and The Wendy -- an egg, cheese and tomato English muffin sandwich served with a side of fried potatoes -- life sure felt perfect.
Since I've been to Hot Plate before (once on a chilly winter day, and another occasion when I forgot my brunch date and showed up about 45 minutes late and very frazzled), I can tell you that it's not just the sunny, t-shirt weather and the three-day weekend that has me jazzed about the restaurant. The first time I went I feel in love with the pumpkin-buckwheat waffle, and I sipped a large cup of Chai tea to calm my nerves on the second visit. Both experiences were enjoyable despite the weather and my special brand of spazziness.
It's that time of year when everything is beautiful. As I sat on the patio at Hot Plate (5204 Bloomington Ave., 612.824.4794), enjoying a cup of coffee, the scent of lilacs wafting in the breeze and The Wendy -- an egg, cheese and tomato English muffin sandwich served with a side of fried potatoes -- life sure felt perfect.
Since I've been to Hot Plate before (once on a chilly winter day, and another occasion when I forgot my brunch date and showed up about 45 minutes late and very frazzled), I can tell you that it's not just the sunny, t-shirt weather and the three-day weekend that has me jazzed about the restaurant. The first time I went I feel in love with the pumpkin-buckwheat waffle, and I sipped a large cup of Chai tea to calm my nerves on the second visit. Both experiences were enjoyable despite the weather and my special brand of spazziness.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Fogo de Chao
Date visited: Tuesday, May 15
I ended up at Fogo de Chao (645 Hennepin Ave., 612.338.1344), the new Brazilian steakhouse downtown, because I got a hook up for a free lunch from a friend. It's not a restaurant I would pick, but I was pleasantly surprised by the salad bar offerings (artichokes, roasted red peppers, cheeses, a variety of mixed salads, delicious asparagus and more), the tasty side dishes (crispy polenta cubes, mashed potatoes) and the amazing cheesy pastry puffs that the waiters kept bringing to the table. I also enjoyed a papaya dessert, and the flan and molten chocolate cake that my companions ordered were mouth-watering as well.
That said, I can't recommend the restaurant to vegetarians. Remember, it's a Brazilian steakhouse. There's literally meat at every turn. Waiters wearing gauchos patrol the dining room with 15 different skewers of meat, shaving off slices to hungry diners on demand. I don't mind watching people eat meat as long as I don't have to, but many of my fellow vegetarians would be disgusted (and rightfully so).
The moral of the story: If you are forced into a meal at Fogo de Chao (or get a free hook-up), there's nothing to worry about, you won't starve. But making it a destination isn't the best idea - as if you needed me to tell you that.
I ended up at Fogo de Chao (645 Hennepin Ave., 612.338.1344), the new Brazilian steakhouse downtown, because I got a hook up for a free lunch from a friend. It's not a restaurant I would pick, but I was pleasantly surprised by the salad bar offerings (artichokes, roasted red peppers, cheeses, a variety of mixed salads, delicious asparagus and more), the tasty side dishes (crispy polenta cubes, mashed potatoes) and the amazing cheesy pastry puffs that the waiters kept bringing to the table. I also enjoyed a papaya dessert, and the flan and molten chocolate cake that my companions ordered were mouth-watering as well.
That said, I can't recommend the restaurant to vegetarians. Remember, it's a Brazilian steakhouse. There's literally meat at every turn. Waiters wearing gauchos patrol the dining room with 15 different skewers of meat, shaving off slices to hungry diners on demand. I don't mind watching people eat meat as long as I don't have to, but many of my fellow vegetarians would be disgusted (and rightfully so).
The moral of the story: If you are forced into a meal at Fogo de Chao (or get a free hook-up), there's nothing to worry about, you won't starve. But making it a destination isn't the best idea - as if you needed me to tell you that.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Morelos
Date visited: Friday, May 11
It was a long week, and Friday was a long day, so when I plopped into the booth at Morelos (14 W. 26th St., Minneapolis), I couldn't get a margarita fast enough. Luckily I didn't have to wait long for the blended strawberry drink to arrive, and it didn't taste as strong as it felt, which is exactly how I like it.
Alcohol aside, the menu offered a half dozen designated vegetarian options, and they all looked fairly promising. I ordered the vegetarian tamales because it's hard to find veggie-friendly tamales. Apparently, that's for good reason. Although the menu said the tamales were filled with vegetables, they seemed to be filled with a bland mashed potato mixture. They were topped with an incredibly spicy sauce (keep in mind I'm a spice wimp), and served with rice and black beans on the side. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of the meal, but I'd definitely give Morelos another shot, and that's not just the margarita talking.
It was a long week, and Friday was a long day, so when I plopped into the booth at Morelos (14 W. 26th St., Minneapolis), I couldn't get a margarita fast enough. Luckily I didn't have to wait long for the blended strawberry drink to arrive, and it didn't taste as strong as it felt, which is exactly how I like it.
Alcohol aside, the menu offered a half dozen designated vegetarian options, and they all looked fairly promising. I ordered the vegetarian tamales because it's hard to find veggie-friendly tamales. Apparently, that's for good reason. Although the menu said the tamales were filled with vegetables, they seemed to be filled with a bland mashed potato mixture. They were topped with an incredibly spicy sauce (keep in mind I'm a spice wimp), and served with rice and black beans on the side. Overall, I wasn't a big fan of the meal, but I'd definitely give Morelos another shot, and that's not just the margarita talking.
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