Restaurants
Best of the Twin Cities | Local PicksDirectory List
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WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. One of the best reasons you have for venturing into the Warehouse District, this cozy, award-winning kitchen, run by Chef Isaac Becker, applies youthful enthusiasm to the art of creative cookery. Featured main dishes run the gamut, from nori-encrusted sirloin with ponzu to sea urchin risotto to tagliatelle with foie gras meatballs. If something a tad more mainstream fires your craving, then the signature 112 cheeseburger is probably the way to go. It won't take long for you to figure why this is one of town's top restaurants, the preferred haunt of Minny foodies.
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Located in the Mall of America, Cantina #1 is the ideal restaurant for diners seeking authentic Mexican food. Menu items include homemade salsas, ceviches, taquitos, enchiladas, seafood dishes and a few Tex-Mex items. An extensive cocktail menu is available, and the great food at Cantina #1 is matched only by the restaurant's fun, lively atmosphere. Events like dancing lessons and live weekend music mix with food and drink specials to make Cantina #1 the perfect destination for a delicious, fun and relaxed meal.
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DOWNTOWN. Keeping pace with the sleek, sexy aesthetics of the Graves 601 Hotel requires a restaurant designer's A-game, and that's just what happened when the plans were drawn up for Cosmos. Modern and cool, the space features furniture with low-profiles and clean, distinct lines, giving it a dramatic vibe that suits the downtown Theater District just right. The dinner menu lists inventive numbers like celery root tart and vanilla-butter poached lobster with sweet onion curry. Sunday "blunch," meanwhile, includes tasty benedicts, corned beef hash, and after 11am, even grilled pork loin and grass-fed Minnesota rib-eye.
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Da-Afghan, a family-owned establishment, has been serving authentic Afghan specialties since 1988. This place provides diners with the opportunity to sample the unique flavor combinations of the country's cuisine, which has been influenced by Chinese, Indian and Greek traditions. All meals are prepared using fresh ingredients, including naturally-fed lamb that is specially raised for the restaurant. Menu selections include traditional Afghan dishes like Morgh Lawand Chalow, a meal of chicken in yogurt sauce with a variety of spices and basmati rice. More recognizable Greek, Indian and Middle Eastern specialties like hummus, samosas and dolma are also available.
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This Bloomington mainstay was founded by a Jerusalem native who survived his tough childhood by selling falafel outside of a boarding school, earning himself the nickname Falafel King. Today, this restaurant is a popular destination for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. Specialties include gyros, hummus, tabouli, baba ghanoush, and, of course, falafel. Several vegetarian entrees are available, and customers can purchase pita bread, falafel mix, hummus and a variety of other items. Thanks to its affordable, flavorful food, and comfortable, no-frills atmosphere, Falafel King has become a local favorite.
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UPTOWN. This popular café serves three meals daily. Breakfast choices include the omelet du jour, breakfast burritos, and deep-dish quiches. Among the best options are double fruit-and-nut pancakes and a hashbrown platter, served with cheese and scallions. French Meadow Bakery also offers eclectic lunch and dinner menus that include everything from vegan shepherd's pie to a chicken caesar wrap.
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This family-owned restaurant is known for its authentic Greek cuisine and attention to detail. The feature here is, of course, the gyros, and the restaurant's menu offers five variations on the classic dish. Try a spicy gyro with onions, green peppers and spicy cucumber sauce or an Athenian with French fries, onions, tomatoes, mustard and cucumber sauce. A selection of pizzas, salads, chicken pitas and platters is also available. With its authentic, affordable food and casual, friendly atmosphere, it's no wonder that Gyropolis has become a Bloomington favorite.
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LORING PARK. This two-level restaurant overlooking Loring Park is the most popular of Joe's multiple Minneapolis locations. Joe's menu contains burger dishes that are influenced by cuisines just about everywhere a lamb burger, curried tuna-burger, veggie burger, and Asian pork burger. On Sundays, the trendy crowd tends to flock here for brunch, an all-you-can-eat, family-style affair that includes Cajun pork chops, apple-smoked bacon, and spinach eggs. Brunch reservations suggested.
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Kokomos Island Cafe where Key West meets the tasty, spicy flavors of the Caribbean. Your taste buds will delight in the array of mouth-watering dishes prepared with fresh fruit, vegetables and fish. Entrees include items like Key West Lime Chicken, Beach Kabobs, Black Pearl Ribs, Tiki-Koko Shrimp Platter and Castaway Tilapia. Kokomo's also serves up some great salad options. On the Lil' Surfer menu, kids will enjoy their choices like popcorn shrimp, tender chicken fingers and more favorites. Relax to the sounds of steel drum music and an Island setting.
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Saffron Restaurant and Lounge in Minneapolis features extraordinary international cuisine that jumps out with delicious flavors. Each entrée is carefully made to bring out its own unique flavors. Start with with one of the tempting appetizers like fried mussels or kofta meatballs. For your main entrée, try the beef strip loin with Manchego cheese or the tender lamb shoulder. End your evening with a delicious order of Crème Brûlée tart.
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