(photo: customers dancing while waiting for tables at Travail in Robbinsdale.)
This guest post comes to us from Barry Casselman, noted political commentator and dean of Twin Cities food critics.
Many visitors come to the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis in the course of a year. Most of them come for business purposes, and don’t stay very long. Others
come in the spring, summer and autumn as tourists to see the Twins baseball team play, to shop at the Mall of America, to visit the famed State Fair in August, or to
attend a play at the Guthrie Theater, among many other cultural and professional sports events throughout the year.
Of course, whether in the Twin Cities for business or pleasure, one has to eat, and that means to eat out. As a large metropolitan center, the Twin Cities have innumerable restaurants of all kinds, quality and prices, as do all other large metropolitan centers in the U.S., but the questions remains: what are the best of the most unique dining experiences in Minneapolis and St. Paul, experiences unlike what a visitor might encounter at home or elsewhere?
As the dean of the Twin City food critics (I have been writing about the restaurant scene here since 1973), I have come up with ten best suggestions for where to go or what to try for something very special, something that visitors probably don’t have wherever they’re from, or if they do, not as good.
COSSETTA’S PASTICCERIA & DELI (St. Paul)
This spectacular emporium of Italian food specialties in downtown St. Paul features on the first floor a popular southern Italian cafeteria (with tables on the second floor) and on the third floor is an upscale Italian steak house dining room. All this is the product of the restless vision of St. Paul restaurateur Dave Cossetta. Also on the first floor is a breathtaking Italian pasticceria/gelateria and adjoining Italian deli featuring the best imported cured meats, cheeses, olive oils, condiments, baked-on-the-
premises breads, and authentically-prepared Italian specialties for take-out.
CREMA CAFE/SONNY’S ICE CREAM (Minneapolis)
Famous for its nationally-known superb ice creams, sorbets and gelati of the highest quality and original flavors, the Cafe also serves excellent brunches and
dinners, hard-to-find bottles of outstanding wines, and rich desserts in one of the Twin Cities most charming and intimate dining spaces, including a magical outdoor patio during the warm weather.
TILIA (Minneapolis)
This outstanding Linden Hills neighborhood bistro serves some of the best food in the Twin Cities with a large and original menu, excellent service, and one of the few area fine dining restaurants that is kid-friendly. The kitchen’s changing specialities are invariably delicious, and it is clearly a dining room where everyone, staff included, is having a good time.
B.T. MCELRATH’S CHOCOLATES (St. Paul)
One of the nation’s top artisan chocolatiers, Brian McElrath and his devoted crew produce a wide variety of award-winning chocolates. Although they have no retail
outlet of their own, they do hold twice-a-year special sales at their factory location, and their chocolates are available at most of the top grocery outlets in the Twin Cities.
GHORKA PALACE (Minneapolis)
A terrific Himalayan restaurant with two women Nepalese chefs who create masterpieces of unusual flavors with Asian herbs and spices and all-natural, organic top quality meats and vegetables. Lunch and dinner, and the best buffet lunch in the Twin Cities, and by far the outstanding local restaurant for this cuisine.
KRAMARCZUK (Minneapolis)
This Slavic deli, meat market and cafeteria is a popular destination for made-in-house and preservative-free sausages and eastern European specialties. The popular
cafeteria offers hearty goulashes, stuffed cabbage, pierogi,and plates of bratwurst and caraway sauerkraut. Some were surprised when this location recently won a James Beard Award, but it is a distinctive Minneapolis dining spot and deserves its accolades.
MANCINI’S (St. Paul)
A classic old-time Italian steakhouse in downtown St. Paul with a neighborhood flavor and clientele. Excellent steaks at reasonable prices. Still family-run, the legendary paterfamilias of the Mancini clan is gone, but his sons and grandchildren are on the premises every night in the kitchen or to greet the regulars and first-timers with warm Mediterranean charm. A true St. Paul experience.
BLACK SHEEP CAFE (South St. Paul)
Probably the best coffeehouse in the state, this creation of barista (and now professional singing star) Peter Middlecamp sets the Minnesota standard for the finest coffee and espresso drinks, imported teas and home made breakfast and lunch specialties. A Clover coffeemaker and Dietrich roaster ensures the highest quality, and international-awarded barista/proprietor Middlecamp gives it the special touch. Excellent food and pastries are prepared on the premises. A bit of a trek to South St. Paul, but worth it for coffee aficionados.
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR (St. Paul)
One of the largest state fairs in the nation, it runs from mid-August to Labor Day. Virtually a fifth of the whole state turns out for Minnesota specialties-on-a-stick, local dairy, meat and produce items, exhibits, a grand Mid-Way, big-name music entertainment, and old-fashioned summer fun. Not to be missed.
TRAVAIL & ROOKERY (Robbinsdale)
Perhaps the most original and provocative kitchens in the region, these two dining rooms, side-by-side under the same roof provide innovative prix fixe menus filled with the often-unexpected and delicious creations of the numerous chefs who also serve as waiters. There is always an element of fun and whimsy in the many small plates which compose the multi-course dinners. A unique Twin Cities culinary experience.
{First published on The Prairie Editor website in January, 2015]
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