Champps Americana
Champps is a very good casual restaurant and bar. They have several locations in the twin cities. They offer good, interesting food. Even though its the typical burger and sandwich joint, their pastas and meals are just a little more interesting and flavorful. They have a full bar with many fruity drinks and good martinis. Each restaurant also has several t.v.s, some with large screens, to watch your favorite game. Depending on the location, some also have live d.j.'s. Champps also offers pull tabs, if you are feeling lucky!
Check it out for a casual night out.
PROS: Big Screen t.v.'s for sports watching, Live D.J. at some locations
CONS: Can be kind of loud on sports nights, but it is a sports bar!
Bellanotte
Bellanotte is an excellent Italian Cuisine restaurant in Block E of downtown Minneapolis. This restaurant is high end Italian cuisine. Make sure to make a reservation, as the place is very popular and fills up fast. The food is wonderful! If you love pasta you will not get tired of the numerous selections of pastas with meats, oils, and veggies. They also offer chicken and seafood selections. The seafood looked amazing. For my birthday, they gave me a free creme brulee, which was simply to die for. The large metal cage style fire place made for a warm amvience.
Later at night, they offer live music and a bustling bar scene, full of the trendy beautiful people. If you are not so much into that scene, just arrive early enough and you will have a wonderful, quiet dinner.
PROS: Fantastic Food! Wonderful, warm atmosphere
CONS: Very busy when the live music starts. Plan to stand in a line for music.
Black Forest Inn
YUMMMMM.....Black Forest Inn! Black Forest Inn is a wonderful German restaurant located on "Eat Street" in Minneapolis. This restaurant has the best German food, that will fill you up! The food is very heavy, but delicious. My favorite is a stew made of sticky pasta and beef. The restaurant has a full service bar and inside seating, but also has a delightful patio in the back. It is intimate and perfect for summer dining.
PROS: The outside patio, bar inside, and food. Does have a parking lot.
CONS: Can get very busy.
Bunker's Bar and Grill
Bunker's Bar and Grill hosts some good local live music for Minnepolis/St. Paul. It is located on Washington Ave, between Downtown Mpls and North Minneapolis. This place is a "hole in the wall" in terms of decor or style, but if you want a come as you are type of place, it's a good place to check out. They do get some good musicians in here. They most always do have a cover charge. They do have a small lot, or there is street parking. I have not tried the food, though I wouldn't expect anything outstanding on that front; I really do believe this place is more about the beer and the music.
PROS: Live Music
CONS: A little grungy
Byerley's
Byerley's Grocery Store is hands down the best grocer in the twin cities. They have several locations. Byerley's has carpeted ailes and a relaxing, calming, soothing decor! It is not your warehouse style store. They offer a wonderful meat department, deli, cheese section, bakery, and fine carryout items such as chinese food, pizzas, and grilled sandwiches. Try their famous Ultimate Brownies for a real treat. Or, get a cup of their wild rice soup...it is to die for! Most locations still have the old fashioned drive up service, for the bag boys to put the groceries in your car. The prices are higher than your warehouse store, but the fine brands and fine food will make you WANT to shop for groceries.
PROS: Top quality food. Excellent brands. Terrific Deli.
CONS: More expensive than discount stores
Dino's The Greek Place
Dino's Gyros is an excellent fast food Greek place. They have really great gyros, and they are pretty cheap. It's a tough decision on what gyro to select, because they offer many varieties of the traditional gyro. They also have some other non-gyro meals. They also have desserts, such as the traditional backlavea..my favorite! Appetizers include spankopita..yummy. The restaurant also has some wine and I believe a few beer choices as well. Check it out for a good fast greek food.
PROS: Excellent Food! Beer and Wine!
CONS: none
Drink
Drink! is a bar entirely devoted to young twenty somethings. I HATE this bar! It is a giant meat market, that's all it is. They often hand out passes for booze specials on the street to get even more people into a already crazy packed bar. If you are 21 and want to see lots of other crazy drunk 20 somethings, go here. If you like a classy, beautiful, timeless lounge where you can easily chat with friends or order a wonderful meal or dessert, Do NOT go here. Drink may look nice and new on the outside, but all it is is sleeze sleeze sleeze on the inside.
PROS: None
CONS: See review!
Elsie's Restaurant Bar & Bowling Center
Elsie's Restaurant is a casual restauraunt located in a bowling alley in Northeast Minneapolis. The food is casual-burgers, chicken, lower end steaks, and the like. It is filling and good. The atmosphere is fun and fast paced, since it's right near the bowling and the bar. They also have excellent drinks here, including icrecream drinks like Grasshopper. Check out the bar area as well for some fun karoke, or of course, the bowling alley. It's a fun, casual evening out.
PROS: Icecream drinks! Karoke!
CONS: Can get very busy; plan ahead for bowling lane availability
Rush's Bridal
Earlier this summer, I had an unpleasant experience at Rush's Bridal in downtown Minneapolis on Nicollet Mall. I had just gotten engaged. I'm still glowing. I was so excited to take my lunch hour to go look at dresses for the first time with a good friend who will be in the wedding herself. We climbed the 2 flights only to get told that we would need an appointment to even try on a dress. From their ads, it makes it seem like you only need an appointment to try on dresses from the "special racks". Well, knowing that I probably could not afford those racks anyway, I didn't make the appt. After all, this was a quick look see. I only
intended to try on one or two dresses, just to say that I can do that now! Because I really am engaged and I never dreamed I would ever get married. I was very disappointed. All I could do was look and there were at least 6 open rooms. I didn't want any assistance, all I wanted to do was look.
PROS: Selection was decent
CONS: Bad service. Not willing to please a customer.
Nicklow's Cafe & Bar
Nicklow's is a relaxing restaurant in Blaine, Minnesota. We went there recently and had a pleasant time. They have a patio with a great view of a small lake. Even though it's close to highways, the sound of the birds almost covers highway noise up. It is beautiful and relaxing. There is some Greek food, gyros and greek salad, but that's about it. I wouldn't call it a destination Greek food place, but the outdoor patio was fun. Drinks were strong too :) Most of the food is American fare.
PROS: Outdoor Patio
CONS: Not enough Greek food items