Al & Alma's Supper Club & Charter Cruises
Al & Alma's Supper Club & Charter Cruises are located on Lake Minnetonka, MN. All Vikings cruise jokes aside (please!), it really is a fun thing to do on Lake Minnetonka. They offer summer cruises around the Lake sevaral times a day, and they cater the cruises with their own supper club food. I went on a Sunday brunch one, and the food included a nice chicken and rice. It was quite good for a boat cruise. The cruise was very fun and relaxing, and it was fun to be on a yacht! Although the date I was on didn't work out, the cruise sure was fun!
PROS: Great food, relaxing boat ride
CONS: Viking's Scandal..try just to forget about it and enjoy the lake :)
Grandma's Saloon & Grill
Grandma's Saloon & Grill is a casual American Restuarant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as Plymouth, MN and Duluth, MN. They also have a location in Fargo. This restaurant needs to reinvent themselves. The food is so traditional it's boring, because it's not even prepared that well. The one in Minneapolis is either packed with college aged kids or as dead as can be. Maybe the Duluth restaurant is better, since it's the home of the Grandma's marathon, and it is right near the Lake. But, the Minneapolis locations definitely need some updating.
PROS: Large, Seated quickly
CONS: Boring food, loud atmosphere
King and I Thai
King and I Thai is excellent Thai food. The restaurant is in Minneapolis, MN. Come hungry, as the portions are huge! Or share a couple with a friend or two. The appetizers are good also, as is the bar :) This Thai food definitely seems more authentic than other competitors (though I have not been to Thailand). The food is moist and not dry and chalky. Word to the wise, be careful with the parking..the loop in front of the restaurant can be kind of tricky.
PROS: The food! Yummy.
CONS: The parking! Not so yummy.
Maynard's
I love Maynards, a restaurant in Excellsior, MN, right on Lake Minnetonka. Yeah, the bulk of Minneapolis is here on Friday and Saturday nights in the summertime. But what is not to love? It has a HUGE outdoor patio, with it's own bar. You can feed the gigantic cat fish that hang out by their several docks, where boaters tie up to come catch food/drinks. The menu inside is different than the outside more casual menu. You can get a wide variety of food, American cuisine such as steaks, pastas, chicken, salads, and fish. The menu is a little more upscale inside the restaurant. Sipping on drinks, people watching, boat watching..a wonderful time.
PROS: Wonderful people watching and fantastic view of Lake Minnetonka
CONS: Horrible parking, sometimes hard to get an outside table--Arrive Early!
Pizza Luce'
Pizza Luce is a very good pizza restaurant with three locations in Minneapolis. The pizza here is gourmet, and very interesting. Mashed potatoe pizza? They've got it. Bear (meaty) pizza? They've got that too. They also have other entrees and terrific desserts. They offer beer and wine, but not a full bar. (I was dissapointed once to not be able to get a barcadi Diet). Pizza Luce also delivers.
PROS: Interesting, tasty pizza
CONS: Do not have a full bar
Acadia Cafe
Acadia Cafe is a fun coffee shop/cafe in Minneapolis, right on eat street. They offer a few sandwiches and desserts, coffee, and beer and wine. Their selection is minimal, but fits the bill when you are hungry. They have an awesome Grilled Cheese! They have a theatre that hosts live theatre performed by area artists and small theatre companies. And of course, you can bring your food/drink into the show. They also have Sunday morning music by area musicians. This place is laid back and comfortable, with couches and tables.
PROS: Grilled Cheese, Wine, Beer
CONS: Not the best theatre to work in, but great for spectators.
AZIA Restaurant and Bar
AZIA Restaurant and Bar is located in Minneapolis, MN on "Eat Street". This is a very fun restaurant and bar. The cuisine is Chinese/asian, as the name indicates. The food is excellent! This is your high end Asian food, so prices are a bit higher, but worth it. They also have all the fancy drinks, including some killer martinis! The decor is modern and trendy. A great place to meet friends for drinks.
PROS: Food is fantastic
CONS: Gets very busy. Sometimes the wait is long for a table
Kowalski's
Kowalski's is one of my favorite grocers. They have the finest selection of fruits, vegetables, deli and bakery around! The place is a high end market, not your typical warehouse style grocery store; it is warm and comfortable. Also, check out their gift section. If you are in need of a quick gift, hit this area! They have stationary, notions, even purses and jewelry! They also have seasonal decorations, like christmas items, for an example. I enjoy their deli for a quick dinner because they have many prepackaged meals that are simply divine.
PROS: Gift Selection at a mini-gift store
CONS: More expensive that discount grocers.
Orpheum Theatre
The Historic Orpheum theatre in downtown Minneapolis is a fine place to see a concert, play, or other type of show. This theatre was built in the early 1920's and it's elegance and grandeur has been restored. Back in the early 1980's, previous owners had modernized, and slightly destroyed the place by draping or painting over grand, guilded beautiful architecture. In the 1990's it was restored to it's beautiful old glory. The place is huge; it seats 2400 people, with it's main floor and balcony seating. When you walk into the huge theatre and get a glimpse of its guilded ceiling and huge chandeliers, you will feel like you are taking a step back into the old vaudeville days of 1930.
PROS: Excellent entertainment. Grand, beautiful space
CONS: Sometimes difficult to get tickets for popular events! Plan ahead.
Pantages Theatre
The Pantages Theatre is located in Downtown Minneapolis and is part of the Historic Theatre Group. The Pantages offers smaller plays, concerts, ballets, and other shows. Although not used nearly as often as it's sister theatres, the Orpheum and the State, the Pantages is just as beautiful and elegant. It has a smaller house than either of its bigger sisters. It was restored in recent years to its beautiful blue decor. This theatre also has a neat display of theatre history in it's basement, near the theatres only restrooms. It has a lobby with a more modern style bar. The theatre offers main floor and balcony seating. Take the back stairs to catch a glimpse of how badly decayed the theatre was, before they remodled it. They kept up some of the old wall paper for people to see the before and after.
PROS: Gorgeous Decor! Wonderful entertainment. Timeless Theatre
CONS: Near rough area of Block E in downtown Minneapolis