Midwest travelers won't go hungry when they're with Jessie Voigts! Midwest Guest readers who enjoyed her article, 5 Best Places to eat around Saugatuck, Michigan, should enjoy this two-part series (starting today) about her favorite places to eat in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
Minneapolis and St Paul, Minnesota (known as the Twin Cities), are chock full of excellent food and great culture. There are plenty of ethnic influences, besides the traditional Scandinavian ones you’d expect, and a well-established gourmet food scene.
Whenever we plan a trip to the Cities, there are always more restaurants that we want to visit than we have time to eat at in one trip (even thinking about four meals a day, which has happened on occasion).
How to decide? Here are some of our favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. They are all family-friendly, easy on the budget, and boast great food.
Great eats in Minneapolis
1. Black Forest Inn
1 E 26th Street, 612-872-0812
A lovely German restaurant - with incredible decorations (beautifully painted inside and out, and a gorgeous stained glass panel and lamps), great food, and the best outdoor patio in the Cities. A trickling fountain in the leafy courtyard helps you relax while you ingest incredible spaetzel, sausages, or a variety of authentic German dishes. (And how can you not love a restaurant with the street address of 1?)
2. Quang Pastry and Deli
2719 Nicollet Ave, 612-870-4739
Just down the road from Black Forest, in a street populated with both fantastic and nondescript restaurants, Quang's stands out. They used to be across the road, but built a new place with parking, and I couldn't be happier. Try the Royal Bun - a fantastic noodle dish with several Spring Rolls scattered atop, along with fresh herbs. But just about anything you order here will make you happy.
3. Sinbad Deli & Market
2528 Nicollet Ave S, 612-871-6505
Right up the street from Black Forest and Quang's is a tasty Middle Eastern deli (great takeout) with an incredible lunch buffet. Oh my! Forget the buffets with filler and cheap food - this one looks small, but is filled with authentic delicious Middle Eastern Foods. Oh, I am getting hungry just thinking about it!
Great eats in St. Paul
St. Paul is a very different city from Minneapolis. Despite being right across the river from each other, they each shine in a unique way. Luckily for us, the food in both cities is stellar - lots of great choices for the foodie! Here are a few of my hidden gem favorites:
1. Buon Giorno
335 University Ave E, 651-224-1816
This place is a little bit difficult to find, and is tucked away just north of St. Paul, amidst the tangled highways. There isn't a place to sit and eat there, but the takeout is just incredible. Order freshly made sandwiches, sides of all kinds of olives, and plenty of hot dishes. Definitely fresh meat and vegetables - and pick up a bottle of wine, or some authentic Italian groceries on your way to the cash register.
2. Cossetta's
211 7th St W, 651-222-3476
Yet another authentic Italian place, just one block south of the Xcel Center, Cossetta's is a wonderful experience. Kids will love it! You wind your way through a lavish grocery section to order your items. The problem is that there are so many luscious things to choose from that you have a hard time deciding. I highly recommend the lasagna, but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Most of the tables are upstairs, but there are a few handicap accessible ones down on the main level.
3. Andy's Garage
1685 Englewood Ave, 651-917-2332
The original Andy's Garage was in a garage, but they had to move to the Midtown Exchange Building. Nevertheless, THIS is the place to go for old-school hamburgers, fries, and malts.
4. The Grand Ole Creamery
750 Grand Avenue, 651-293-1655
www.grandolecreamery.com
Who doesn't love ice cream? No one in Minnesota, as the lines at this ice cream store attest! Fantastic flavors, full cream taste - Ice Cream Perfection. Black Hills Gold, anyone?
Be sure to check back here on Thursday for Part 2 of Jessie's Great Eats in the Twin Cities series.
Jessie Voigts is the publisher of Wandering Educators, a travel resource for global educators. Love to learn about the world? Head to http://www.WanderingEducators.com
Photos and text © Jessie Voigts 2011 All rights reserved, used with permission
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