What do you like to eat? Do you like Asian food? Italian? Vietnamese? Or do you just want some down-home Midwestern fare? Whatever your palate desires, Minneapolis and St. Paul have it. (Just try not to eat meat--or if you do, don't tell Shelly).
Of course, the Twin Cities have all the usual suspects--Perkins, The Olive Garden, Chili's, and so on--but if you want to get some of the best food in the Cities, here are some good options....
Victoria Crossing, Grand Avenue and Victoria Street, St.
Paul, MN
http://twincities.sidewalk.citysearch.com/E/V/MINMN/0009/27/04/cs1.html
The Lotus is the premier Vietnamese Restaurant in Minnesota, which is saying something, because Minnesota is home to many fine Vietnamese restaurants. There are several locations throughout the Twin Cities, but Lotus Victoria is the one you'll want to visit if you're in St. Paul.
If you've had Vietnamese food before, you'll love the Lotus. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. It's similar to Chinese food, but different spices are used. The egg rolls are phenomenal (best in the Twin Cities, IMHO). If you're a carnivore, try the Imperial Chicken or its cousin, Mustard Chicken. The Vietnamese Barbecue dishes are also first-rate. There's a wide range of Vegetarian fare, too, including Mock Duck and Potato and the ever-popular Buddha Delight. All in all, a great place for Asian food.
1659 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
If you've had Thai food before, you know how spicy it can be. But if you like spicy food, there's really no food better than Thai. Pad Thai Grand Cafe offers excellent Thai cuisine in a little storefront restaurant by the Macallester College campus. Pad Thai is also where Shelly and Jeff found their third cat, Tucker, who was begging for food on the patio. (A word to the wise, though: late October is probably not a good time to go out onto the patio for food!)
289 East Fifth Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Sawatdee is another outstanding Thai restaurant. There several locations you can visit, but the downtown St. Paul location is not only the handiest, but also boasts the best atmosphere of all of the Sawatdee locations. There are a number of good dishes on the menu. The Chicken with Cashew Nuts is always pleasing, and there's good vegetarian fare, too. Mock Duck is not listed on the menu, but it's available by request.
380 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota
If you want Chinese food, Hunan Garden, in Downtown Saint Paul, is the place for you. They offer the "old school" Chinese restaurant atmosphere with fine Chinese favorites, from sweet and sour chicken to vegetable moo shu. It's also accessable by skyway, handy if you're staying at the Radisson Inn.
2728 Gannon Road, St. Paul, MN
The St. Paul Buca is where the Feckes and the Carrolls met for the first time. It also has some outstanding home-style Italian food. What is home-style Italian? Let's just say you don't all want to order your own dishes. The wait can be long, but it's worth it.
There's really not anything on the menu that isn't outstanding. The Eggplant Parmesan rates special mention. Never had eggplant? You're missing out. Their pastas are great, and if you're a vegetarian, you can get any pasta with marinara sauce (which is every bit as good as--if not better than--the meat sauce). The only downside to Buca is the wait--it can stretch to ninety minutes on the weekends, even with reservations. But once you're finally seated, it's well worth it.
211 West Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN
It's quick, it's cheap, and it's good. This St. Paul landmark serves good Italian food. It also has a large Italian market.
Cossetta's isn't the finest Italian food in the Twin Cities, but it is among the cheapest. If you want a basic pasta dish, you can eat for $5 or less. They've also got great pizza. A good place to drop in while you're downtown.
850 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN
If you're looking for a more upscale atmosphere than Buca or Cossetta's, Ciatti's Grand Avenue is your best bet. It's everything you expect out of an Italian restaurant--good food, good wine, fine salads. It may not boast the fun atmosphere of Buca, but it's a great place to drop in if you're visiting Grand Avenue.
2549 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
If it's vegetarian food you crave, it's worth the short trek down I-94 to Lyndale Avenue. They're a 100% vegetarian restaurant, but you don't have to be a vegetarian to love the falafel, black bean burrito, or barbeque mock duck. They've got good deserts, too.
Mud Pie also boasts great dips for appetizers. The Mexican dip is simple (just black beans, guacamole, and hot sauce) but delicious. In addition, vegans can eat with a clean conscience--Mud Pie can make any of its dishes vegan, and uses only organic dairy products. It's a great place to eat.
300 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN
Located in the Warehouse District in Minneapolis, Cafe Brenda is consistently rated among the top Vegetarian restaurants in the Twin Cities. It's a fine place to drop in if you're visiting downtown Minneapolis.
1745 Cope Avenue, Maplewood, Minnesota
Located in what appears to be a converted Happy Chef, Taste of India offers outstanding Indian cuisine just ten minutes east of Saint Paul. Never mind the atmosphere--the food is well worth it. For a fine vegetarian dish, you can order simple potato curry. The Naan (a warm, delicious flatbread) is also phenomenal. They also have excellent Vindaloo and Murgh Makhni. And don't even get me started on the Tandoori Chicken. Well worth the trip.
Union Depot, 214 East Fourth Street, St. Paul,
MN
www.citypages.com/menuguide/bigdaddy
You may wonder why we'd list a barbecue joint on the recommended restaurants of us, when it's obvious that Shelly isn't that big a fan of meat. Well, Big Daddy's does boast good barbecue, but they've also worked to add vegetarian options, like the grilled portabella mushroom. It's not the best barbecue you'll ever have (that's not to be found in the Twin Cities), but it is the best barbecue you'll ever have in St. Paul.
36 West Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN
Mickey's is a St. Paul landmark. The dining car is open 24 hours a day, and serves food that will clog your arteries faster than you can say bypass. (Just for fun, order the Potatoes O'Brien, and watch 'em pour on the melted butter. And then pour on some more). Mickey's is probably the most famous St. Paul restaurant, and if you go there at three in the morning, you'll meet some interesting characters.
Grand Avenue and Lexington Parkway, St. Paul, MN
The Uptowner is a Grand Avenue staple--fine diner-type food, with a bit of a cajun twist. It's a great place, but don't be surprised if it's not open--the hours are a bit irregular, but seem to be 6 AM-3 PM and 10 PM-3 AM, give or take an hour here or there.
375 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, MN
The venerable W.A. Frost has great food in what may be the most elegant atmosphere in St. Paul. Even the bar seems chic, with soft jazz and marble tables. If it's warm enough, you can eat outside, on the most elegant patio in Cathedral Hill. It's spendy, but it's well worth it.
Radisson Riverfront, Kellogg and Wabasha, St.
Paul, MN
Radisson
Riverfront Website
It's not in the Radisson City Center, but in the Radisson Riverfront, a quick walk through the skyway. Carousel is a rotating restaurant that offers a great view of St. Paul, along with fine food and a wonderful atmosphere.
96 North Dale Street, St. Paul, MN
Sweeney's has been voted City Pages' "Best Neighborhood Bar" for several years running, and it's easy to see why. This pleasant little watering hole offers a good selection of beer and wine, along with a solid bar-fare menu. Sweeney's was the closest bar to Jeff and groomsmen Andy Crouch and Don Rasinen when they lived on Portland Avenue, and is also the place Shelly and Jeff met. (They were there on a blind date, just for the record). There's nothing fancy to it, it's just a nice place to drop in and enjoy a cold one.
498 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, MN
Chang O'Hara's started as a Chinese-Irish restaurant, and while it's no longer quite that eclectic, it does offer a very good menu for a bar--indeed, it's not at all a bad place to go for dinner. Their velvet cake is to die for, too.
The bar's decor is a bit unusual, but it's a fun place to drop in on, and it's one of the best bars in St. Paul.
426 St. Peter Street, St. Paul, MN
Great Waters is St. Paul's finest brewpub, boasting a solid selection of microbrews. It's also handy to the Radisson Inn and the Landmark Center, which is nice for those of you staying downtown. The only downside is that, like most places in Downtown St. Paul, it closes early, so try to get there before ten if you want to try it out.
2300 University Avenue Northeast, Minneapolis, MN
Gasthof is a fine place for a night of German fun. From the polka band to the two-liter "boots" full of Oktoberfest, Gasthof is a fun place to dance, drink, and generally carouse.
11000 Red Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN
It's a trek to get to Sherlock's Home, but if you're really a big beer fan, it's probably worth it. Sherlock's is the finest brewpub in Minnesota, and their Scotch Ale has been called the best in the world by beer guru Michael Jackson (no, not that Michael Jackson). Sherlock's isn't just a bar; they also have a fine sit-down restaurant. It's well-worth the forty-five minute drive.
University Avenue and Vandalia Street, St. Paul, MN
If you want to sample some of St. Paul's Irish culture, stop by the Dubliner, located in an industrial part of University Avenue. There's usually an Irish band playing, and it's the best place to get Guinness east of the Mississippi (with the possible exception of Boston, Massachusetts).