Restaurants
by neighborhood
Dinkytown
Al's Breakfast: 413 14th Avenue, in Dinkytown,
612-331-9911. Hours 6
a.m.-1:00 p.m., M-Saturday, 9-1 p.m. on Sunday. The
motto of this tiny diner is "So many friends. So few seats," but
it's worth the wait for the pancakes, a decent cheap cup of coffee
and the Al's Experience. (cheap)
Annie's Parlour: 315 14th Avenue in Dinkytown,
612-379-0744.
An
old-fashioned soda fountain, with burgers, really BIG salads and
milkshakes so formidable, they are best split with another person.
They also have a nice home-made chicken soup and the best grilled
cheese sandwhiches on campus. Outdoor balcony dining when the
weather is nice. (medium-priced)
Bangkok: Thai cuisine
with a lunch buffet starting at $6.00, starring cream cheese
wontons and all you can eat pad Thai noodles. 425 13th Avenue in
Dinkytown. (medium-priced).
Big Ten Sub Station:
hot subs and burgers, with daily combo specials
(cheap).
Bobaboca Tea & Cafe: 1501 University Avenue, SE.
612-623-9380.
Bon Apetit: Good basic
lunch at this juice bar/ pool hall/ gyro stand. Menu is varied,
cheap and the cooks are fast. They also serve beer and wine.
Located at 421 14th Avenue Southeast. (cheap)
Brueggar's Bagel Bakery:
Bruegger's Bagels are made fresh daily in each store. The local
source for decent bagels in an absurd number of varieties. Corner
of Oak Street and Washington Avenue in Stadium Village and 319
14th Avenue in Dinkytown. (cheap)
Burrito Loco Bar &
Grill: 418 13th Avenue, SE., 612-746-5626
Camdi
Chinese-Vietnamese Cuisine: 1325 SE. 4th Street,
612-331-4194.
Vietnamese/Chinese cuisine with cheap lunch specials, that's quite
popular with physicists. Apart from Vietnamese dishes like fresh
rice noodle salad, "special rice" and pho (all wonderful choices),
I also recommend their Thai Chicken Curry soup, fresh spring
rolls, or the Lo Mein. Also check out the specials posted on
construction paper on the walls. They are almost always good and
sometimes, stunningly good, like the Hainanese Chicken.
(cheap)
Cereal World & the Minnesota Popcorn Connection: 423
14th Avenue SE., 612-623-1985.
China Express: 409 14th Avenue SE., 612-379-6378. A fast
cafeteria that avoids the steam-table trap. The cheap lunch
specials are competent renderings of familiar Chinese-American
fare. (cheap)
Chowgirls Killer
Catering: 1316 SE. 4th Street,
612-203-0786
Connection: 423 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-1985
Dinkydome: The Dinkydome
is on the corner of University and 15th. Originally built as a
library for a Bible College, the Dinkydome is now a food court
with a number of small restaurants and general
seating.
Dinkytowner
Cafe: 412 14th Avenue SE.,
612-362-0437.
Duffy's Dinkytown Pizza: 1308 SE. 5th Street,
612-623-3833.
El Burrito Loco:
As if a student at
the Carlson School of Management had gone to Chipotle and copied everything
from their service pattern, menu to the decor. Not quite as good as Chipotle,
as they lack Chipotle's yummy corn salsa, but your burrito comes with free
chips and salsa and the little diner space in the back of the Dinkydale is
rarely crowded. 418 13th Avenue SE 612-746-5626 (cheap).
Espresso 22: pretty
good soups, bread and coffee. (cheap)
Espresso
Royale: 411 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-8127
Soups,
sandwiches and pricey pastries. 411 14th Avenue in Dinkytown and
614 Washington Avenue in Stadium Village
(medium-priced).
Falafel King:
fast food Mid-Eastern style, with daily combo specials. In the
Dinkydome (cheap).
Hong Kong Express:
1501 University Avenue SE., 612-623-9380.
Fast food Cantonese style. Their lunch special--two entrees
for five bucks--is just perfect to share (cheap).
Kafé 421: 421 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-4900
Little Taj Mahal, 1501 University Avenue, SE.,
612-331-3389
Loring Pasta
Bar: 327 14th Avenue, SE. 612-378-4849.
Mangia Mediterrenean
Cuisine/Mangia Express: Woodfired pizzas, home-made pasta
lunch specials and the only worthy Tiramisu on campus
(medium-priced).
Marrakech Cafe Coffee Shop & Mediterranean Deli: 407
14th Avenue, SE., 612-208-0395
McDonald's: 407 15th Avenue SE., 612-331-6590
Mesa Pizza: 1323 SE. 4th Street, 612-436-3006
Newkirk's Kosher Deli:
Excellent home-cooked food with the occasional dilettante touch.
The only deli I've ever been to where the chef wears one of those
puffy white hats. In the basement of the Hillel center on 16th and
University Ave. (cheap).
Pizza Hut: Delivery to
Radisson and Days Inn, 623-0775, located at 1301 University Avenue
Southeast (medium-priced).
Shuang Cheng: 1320 SE. 4th Street, 612-378-0208. .
Taco Johns:
Midwestern version of Taco Bell (cheap).
Thai Rocky Spring Restaurant: 25 13th Avenue, SE.,
612-331-4206
The Cup: Coffee shop
located in Williamson Hall that's a good place to stop if you're
on an errand to the Bursar's Office. The Cup also carries pre-made
sandwhiches, pastries and ice cream (cheap).
The Purple
Onion:1301 University Avenue SE., 612-252-0217
The Steak
Knife:
1327 SE. 4th Street, 612-378-4730.
Vescios Italian
Restaurant: 406 14th
Avenue SE., 612-378-1747.
Stadium
Village
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill: 615 Washington Avenue SE
Arby's: Look for the big neon cowboy
hat in Stadium Village on Washington Avenue across from the Days Inn. (cheap).
The Big Ten: A campus
institution in Stadium Village that serves burgers, hot subs,
chili and a good selection of tap beers. A half sub makes a great
cheap, hot lunch and is vastly better tasting than most of the
chain sub places. They even have a sub station if you don't have
time to sit down. 606 Washington Avenue Southeast (across from the
Radisson) (cheap to medium-priced).
Bona: Bona was voted best Vietnamese
Restaurant by a local paper, no small feat considering there are almost as
many Vietnamese Restaurants in the Twin Cities as there are lakes in the Boundary
Waters. 815 Washington Avenue in Stadium Village. (medium-priced)
Brueggar's Bagel Bakery: Bruegger's
Bagels are made fresh daily in each store. The local source for decent bagels
in an absurd number of varieties. Corner of Oak Street and Washington Avenue
in Stadium Village and 319 14th Avenue in Dinkytown. (cheap).
Burger King:
925 Washington Ave. SE.
Campus Club: Newly
renovated down to the menu, this member's only club has some of
the grandest views of the Mississippi river North of New Orleans.
Also, in a historic, move for our puritanical campus, they also
opened a bar. Located in the top floor of Coffman Union.
(medium-pricey).
Campus Pizza and Pasta:
No delivery but Campus Pizza does have homemade pizza and
calzones. 818 Washington Avenue Southeast.
(medium-priced).
Caspian Bistro and Deli:
A bit of a hike from campus, but close to the Days Inn. Persian
Bistro and market with some Americanized dishes for the less
adventurous. 2418 University Avenue S. E.
(medium-priced)
Chipotle: Specializing
in hefty wraps with fresh ingredients. Very popular at lunch, be
prepared to stand in line. Located at the corner of Washington
Avenue and Oak Street in Stadium Village.(medium-priced, for fast
food).
Coffman Student Union: After
nearly three years of remodeling Coffman is open again to feed us.
With a maze of cafeteria options, fast-food stands like Baja
Tortilla Grill and Chic Filet, and a few hidden gems, like sushi
from upscale Kikugawa;
it also houses Starbucks, M Deli, Jamba Juice, and
MN Marketplace (food court).
It is good to return to the sunny art deco
union. The big buiding on Washington Avenue that faces onto
Northrup Mall (cheap).
D'amico and Sons:
Cafeteria with the kind of food you'd expect at a sit down
restaurant, D'amico has sit-down prices too. Located in the
Gateway building on the corner of 4th and Oak streets.
(medium-priced).
Hong Kong Noodle Restaurant:
Condensed Matter Theoretician, Chuck Campbell found this
family run restaurant to be "The real deal. The food we had was
very good, and a bit unusual. Generous servings and low prices.
One dish we really liked was stir-fried chives. Actually it is
advertised on the board as salt fish with stir-fried chive
flowers, but our friend told them to hold the fish. Delicious. We
also had spicy Shanghai noodles, and chicken low mein. The usual
equation: Three dishes for three people, but we only managed to
eat half. They have congey (rice soup)--highly recommended..."
Located at 901 Washington Ave. S.E. in Stadium Village, open from
4 p.m.- 1 a.m.
The Lotus: Traditional
Vietnamese food, with some Szechwan and other popular Oriental
cuisine thrown in for good measure. Their curry mock duck is a
favorite for it's subtle spiciness. The Lotus has excellent food
and a clean, quiet atmosphere with reasonable prices. Oak Street
in Stadium Village. (medium-priced).
The Meadows: Upscale dining room in
the Radisson, with a pricey, gourmet menu.
The Nolte Center:
University cafeteria located in Nolte Hall (one block north of the
Physics Building) that serves good sandwiches and vegetarian
chili.
Orange Julius: Fast food
chain that specializes in a thick orange drink known as the
"Julius" that appeals to me in a nostalgic, if not culinary way.
Washington Ave. S.E. in Stadium Village. (cheap).
Outside In: Hospital
cafeteria on the second floor of the Phillips Wangensteen
Building. (cheap).
Papa John's Pizza:
Better than Domino's and Pizza Hut and they deliver.
Sally's: Bar and grill
that caters to sport's fans with outdoor dining during nice
weather. Located at 712 Washington Avenue in Stadium Village.
(medium-priced).
Subway: Chain of fast
food restaurants that serves submarine sandwhiches. 825 Washington
Ave. S.E. in Stadium Village. (cheap).
Stub and Herbs: Grad
Student hangout that serves burgers and walleye fingers. Located
at 227 Oak Street in Stadium Village. (medium-priced).
Sushi Express: Clean, bright fast
food restaurant featuring cute little boxes of sushi that are
reasonably priced (for sushi) and made on the spot by the owner.
Fresh, delicious, and probably the healthiest you can eat in 15
minutes. 929 Washington Ave. S.E. (pricey for fast
food).
U-Garden: Classic
Chinese-American Cuisine located at 2725 University Avenue
Southeast.
Village Wok/Village Wok
Express: Despite its somewhat infamous reputation for a less
than pristine kitchen, the place is still packed at all hours of
the day and night, probably the most ringing endorsement any
restaurant could get. Their specialty is Cantonese seafood.
Friendly to all budgets. 610 Washington Avenue across from the
Radisson.
St.
Paul Campus
Abu Nadar: Small deli
and market that serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in the
cities. Everything from the pita bread to the yogurt is made fresh
daily, a fact which becomes abundantly clear when you bite into
one their sandwhiches and meat pies. Corner of Raymond and Como,
near the St. Paul Campus. (cheap).
Muffeletta's in the
Park: Famous for their gourmet brunch served Minnesota-style,
with a giant caramel roll. A neighborhood restaurant with
obsequiously good service and pleasant outdoor dining.
Take the Campus Circulator
(it's free!) to the St. Paul Campus, Student Union on Buford
Street. Back track the bus route down Buford street till it
intersects with Cleveland Ave. (That's the big street that runs
alongside the St. Paul Campus), turn left and follow Cleveland for
two blocks to Como Avenue. Turn right and follow Como for three
blocks to Mufelleta's. Click
here.
for a menu.
St. Paul Student Center
Terrace Cafe: This cafeteria operated by
University Dining Services make-up the bulk of dining choices on
the St. Paul campus. The Terrace Cafe (closed for the summer)
offers a variety of fast-food type options. It's located
in the St. Paul Student Center.
Westbank
Corner Sports Bar & Grill: 1501 Washington Ave. S.
Davanni's: Probably the best place
to order pizza for delivery on campus. They also have hot Hoagies and pasta.
332-5551. (medium-priced).
Falafel King: Cafeteria
specializing in Middle Eastern fare, and of course falafel. The
little fried discs are wonderful when they just come out of the
frier, but avoid them if they've been sitting under the heat
lamps. (medium-priced).
Grandma's Saloon and Grill:
Sponsor's of a famous Marathon in Duluth, this Minnesota chain
serves burgers and grill sandwiches. Oh yeah, and for some reason,
they have volleyball. 1810 Washington Ave. S., next to the Holiday
Inn on the West bank. (medium-priced).
Hard Times Cafe: The
food is an eclectic mix of skillfully-crafted punk vegan dishes
and old fashioned diner fare. The clientele are as the name
suggests in this coffee bar. Located on Riverside Avenue on the
West bank. Located on Cedar Avenue just off 19th. (cheap,
duh).
Jewel of India: Modest,
tidy Indian restaurant that serves a fantastic lunch buffet (M-F)
at reasonable prices. Curry dishes aren't too spicy or wimpy. They
also have a full dinner menu. Located at 1427 Washington Avenue
South on the West Bank. (medium-priced for buffet, pricey for
dinner)
Kilimanjaro Cafe: When most people think of food in
Minnesota they probably get visions of a character from a Garrison
Keillor story chasing you down the driveway with a leftover hot
dish in Tupperware. But exotic dining is easily found at the
oldest of the West Bank's three East African Restaurants. Be
prepared to eat with your hands since most dishes are served with
flat bread on large platters and no silverware. Medium priced and
located at 408 Cedar Ave. South on the West Bank.
(medium-priced).
New Chili Time: The most
casual and inexpensive of the three East African Restaurants
located on the West Bank. The New Chili Time serves exotic,
delicious food, but set aside extra time for any meal since the
service tends to be somewhat random and painfully slow. Also
serves breakfast all day and American dishes for those who like
silverware. As their name suggests they also have good chili,
served with spaghetti, an unusual twist in the Midwest. Located at
411 Cedar Ave So on the West Bank. (medium-priced).
North Country Co-op Deli:
The oldest natural foods cooperative grocery in the area, also
has one of the best deli bars on campus. Soups, sandwiches and
cold drinks are always at the ready. My favorite cheap lunch is
fresh fruit, exotic cheese scraps, fresh striato bread and strong
coffee. You might need to take a look through the store to find
everything but it's always interesting to browse there anyway.
Located at 2129 Riverside Avenue on the West Bank.
(cheap).
Sergeant Preston's: This
bar whose theme is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police also serves
burgers,soups and sandwiches. Outdoor seating and catering,
located at 221 Cedar Avenue South on the West Bank.
(medium-priced).
St. Martin's Table: The
personal and the political were combined to create this cozy
cafe/progressive bookstore. Delicious home made soups, sandwiches
and desserts are served by a volunteer staff, with tips going to
charity. The vibe is a bit like Lutheran Church basement, only the
food is actually good and you will never be asked to eat Lutefisk.
Located at 2001 Riverside Avenue. (cheap).
Town Hall Brewery: The
brew pub trend may have come and gone with few tears shed at its
passing, but this restaurant serves very drinkable specialty beers
and elegant pub food. The dilettante goat cheese nachos are a meal
unto themselves and their ginger buffalo wings are less cloying
than most. Located at 1430 Washington Ave. So. on the West Bank.
Outdoor seating and full menu with medium to pricey entrees and
specials.
The Weinery: Vienna Beef
hotdogs, fries and loads of quirky charm characterize this hot dog
stand. The Weinery is a local landmark for hot dog connoisseurs
and people watchers. At the corner of Cedar and
Riverside.
University
Dining Services on the West Bank
(PLEASE
NOTE: Dining Services Cafeterias are open Monday through Friday.
Saturday campus cafeterias will be closed)
Bistro
West:
Cafeteria located
in the basement of the Humphrey Center.
Carlson
Dining Center: Large new cafeteria, located in the Carlson
School of Management, through the "Gopher Way" Tunnel.
Essentials
and the Metropole: Small cafeteria and snack shop with pizza
by the slice and pre-made sandwiches. Very busy right at noon, but
good for a quick bite on the go. Located in Blegan Hall near the
front entrance and bus stop. Go through the tunnel from the
Humphrey Center to get to Blegen Hall.
Restaurants
within an easy bus ride:
Sometimes you want to
make a night out of a meal, but without a car, it can be tough
getting there. This list should get you there in one bus ride or
with a cheap cab ride.
Chet's Taverna: Modeled
after a European bistro down to the jars of olive oil in place of
butter. Although Chet's is one of those places that arduously
describes every item on the menu, it is also surprisingly
unpretentious. They have a drinkable wine list, that won't break
you when the bill comes, and a medium-priced selection of pastas
and lunch specials. The pricier dinner entrées are gourmet
renderings of classics like pork chops with mashed potatoes and
lamb shanks.
Raymond Ave. at Territorial.
Take the 16 A East toward downtown St. Paul to Raymond and
University. Chet's is half a block North on Raymond, just down
from the liquor store.
The Local: Located
adjacent to a busy pub, the Local is a classic white table cloth
and candles gourmet restaurant that tackles one the world's most
misunderstood cuisine's--Irish. Fresh cream, vegetables, sea food
and game make the Local so much more than potatoes or corned beef
and cabbage. The head chef was imported by the Sligo-born
proprietor of Kieran's Pub (which also serves a great meal in a
less-formal, raucous atmosphere) who knows that Ireland might not
be famous for good food, but it should be. Reservations are
advisable. Click
here
for their web page.
1010 Nicollet Avenue Take the
16A West toward Minneapolis to Nicollet and 5th and walk three
blocks south to the Local.
Pizza Luce: Quite
possibly the best pizza in the Twin Cities, Luce has also gained
the reputation as the coolest spot to eat downtown after 11 p.m.
(Luce is one of the few places without a drive through that stays
open past bar time, 1 a.m.). It gets a little crazy around noon
and midnight, but the rest of the time, it's a sleepy, yet
sophisticated pizza joint. While there are plenty of close rivals
for the title of best pizza, Luce is the hands-down winner for the
best tiramisu in town. Luce is also friendly to any budget: A
slice and a coke is cheap. Split a pizza with a friend and you've
got a medium-priced dinner. If you want wine and tiramisu, it can
get pricey. Click
here
for a coupon.
119 N. 4th Street. Take the 16A
West toward Minneapolis to Nicollet and 5th. Walk one block west
to Hennepin Avenue. Cross the Avenue, turn right and walk one
block to Hennepin and 4th. Turn left on 4th and one block further
West. Luce is on the left hand side.
Vincents: An elegant
restaurant, whose proprieter and head chef is a dashing Frenchman
not afraid to serve rabbit kidney or tripe. The service is good,
the food is adventurous, yet surprisingly earthy and everything
about this place, down to the vase of fresh flowers in the ladies'
room, says class. Reservations are advisable in evenings, if you
can't get one, remember Vincent's serves a decadent lunch. (Pricey
but oh so worth it.)
1100 Nicollet Avenue Take the
16A West toward Minneapolis to Nicollet and 5th and walk three
blocks south to the Local.
Price
Guide:
Cheap:
5 bucks or less. I don't count a snickers and a coke as a meal
either. Restaurants in this category will always deliver a meal
within the budget of your per-diem.
Medium-priced:
You can eat, drink (including a glass of beer or wine) and pay the
tip for under $10-$15 per person.
Pricey:
Used to described pastries when they are more than a dollar a
piece or any restaurant where they bring you that little pleather
folder in which to discreetly place your credit card. $20 or more
per person.
Neighborhood
Locator:
(click here to see a
map
Dinkytown
refers to the
neighborhood north of campus between University Avenue and 8th
Street Southeast; and 13th and 15th Avenue Southeast.
Seven
Corners
refers to the complicated
intersection on the West Bank, across the Washington Avenue
Bridge, where Cedar, Washington Avenue and a number of other side
streets come together to form a village.
Stadium Village
refers to the
area south and east of the mall along Washington Avenue, near the
hospital. The Radisson and the Days Inn are in Stadium
Village.
St. Paul Campus
refers to the
area around the University's smaller, more pastoral campus in St.
Paul. Raymond and Como Avenues and Cleveland street are the main
streets to look for on the map. There are free University buses
that run between the two campus during week-days. On the week-ends
the 16A East is the best way to get there.
The West Bank
refers to the
campus and environs on the West side of the Mississippi River, a
ten minute walk across the Washington Avenue Bridge.
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