Dunn Bros Coffee
I whole-heartedly believe that Dunn Bros coffee is LEAGUES better than Starbucks or Caribou. The coffee is delicious and always fresh. The IceCremas (blended coffee drinks) are way less syrupy than Starbucks and don't separate the way Caribou's do. This store in particular has a great, friendly staff and a nice location. They often have local musicians playing outside, and it is great to sit on their little patio on summer evenings. The inside is clean and comfy, with local artists' work hung up all around the place. VERY COOL. I would definitely recommend this coffee shop for studying, hanging out, or even just grabbing a quick cup on the go.
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
I spend a lot of time on the road, so I eat at Perkins pretty often because they tend to be what is available along the highway. I am usually quite satisfied with the food and service. HOWEVER: my experience at THIS particular Perkins was TERRIBLE. I waited for almost ten minutes before a staff member wandered over to the host stand to seat me. Then, when they brought me to a table it was sticky and the chairs were covered in food. It was another ten minutes before my waitress came to even greet me and take a drink order, and another ten minutes after that before she managed to bring a coke to the table, completely forgetting my drink and giving my companion a regular coke when she ordered diet. I should also say: they were NOT busy at the time. We could hear staff members joking around and chatting in the back. The waitress was rude and inattentive, the food was greasy and cold, and the dining room was dirty.
The Lookout Bar and Grill
I understand that this is a popular place to head to in the area, and the food I had was all satisfactory, but when I was there it was VERY noisy and raucous, it was difficult to flag down a member of the wait staff, the table and chairs were sticky and covered in crumbs, and there was a sort of funky smell. A number of my friends swear by the place, and I have had great catered food at various functions done by The Lookout. I just seem to have caught them on an off night... I hope. I wont be rushing back, but I suppose I might consider returning later if it comes up.
Edelweiss Baby
The store has a great boutique-ey feel and the clothes are definitely beautiful. I was greeted by an employee almost immediately upon entering, and they were very helpful. Still, I don't know how much I'll be going back because the prices are so high. I just have a problem spending quite that much money on something a kid will either ruin or grow out of in a matter of a couple months.
Kafein Inc
I'm not going to lie: I love this little funky, cool coffee shop. The drink menu is HUGE and there are tons of creative, unique, DELICIOUS drinks on there. Try the Azteca or Ancho Chile Mocha. YUMMY. The food is also pretty great, the normal kind of stuff you would expect of a coffee shop, but good quality, plentiful, fresh, homemade, and with a few delicious twists and options. That said, it is a little pricey, which is unfortunate. I would probably go more often if it wasn't quite so spendy. It is open late and tends to be frequented by Northwestern students looking for a caffeine fix and a place to study or chat.
Milio's Sandwiches
The sandwiches are good quality and nice sized. I like the Italian (#5) as well as the tuna. It's close to my house and a fast option for dinner if I don't want to cook. They deliver too. It is a little irritating that they charge extra (like 50 cents) if you ask them to add a topping (like, say, pickles). Still, it is certainly better than Subway.
Claddagh Irish Pub
My friends and I eat at this pub frequently because it's such a fun and unique atmosphere. Plus it is right in the middle of downtown Maple Grove, so it is easy to get to other places when we're done (like the movie theatre) The fish'n'chips are very good, also the spinach and artichoke dip, and corned beef and cabbage rolls. In the summers they seat out on this great little patio with a fireplace and everything. Very nice. I've been to Ireland, and this pub would fit right in with all the ones I visited over there. It does get busy in the evenings (even often on week nights) so I would suggest making a reservation. Also, they don't take reservations specifically for the patio, so if you want to sit out there plan on getting there a little early.
Razor's Court Hair Salon Barbara
Razor's Court is a great little salon with nice hair dresser's and fair prices. It is set back from the road a bit so it can be a little hard to spot (it's next to the MGM Liquor and Firestone Tires). The woman who cut my hair, Paula, was very knowledgeable and friendly and gave me a great haircut. My friend saw another woman, I think her name was Becky or Becca or something like that, and really loved her haircut too. All in all, I'll definitely be going back.
