• Tuesday February 9, 2010

The List of Lists '08: Dining

July 24, 2008

Greatest places to eat

Photo by Tom Wallace.

1. Pizza Luce

"I know of people who move to New York and miss Pizza Luce." --auddiemercury
Last year: 1.

2. 112 Eatery

"Wow! By far the best meal we have had in the States in years." --amaurer
Last year: 7.

3. Manny's

"A special place to have a fantastic steak in celebration." --MattMartigan
Last year: 2.

4. Azia

"The atmosphere is as good as the food. Presentation is superb." --amaurer
Last year: 8.

5. French Meadow

"Quite possibly the bomb, full of glorious food and pleasant aesthetic." --ChestRockwell
Last year: 3.

6. Galactic Pizza

"I love that they have vegetarian options and support local agriculture." --wr3n
Last year: 4.

7. Solera

"Great food, fantastic drinks, and the late-nite happy hour is to die for." --Arwaters
Last year: 6.

8. Oceanaire

"Great for a special occasion or to get a fix of superb seafood." --amaurer
Last year: 5.

9. Hell's Kitchen

"I've never eaten breakfast with such a variety of flavors in each bite." --deonus1
Last year: N/A.

10. Cosmos

"I go here when I can afford it, because Cosmos is a special treat." --aimlessname
Last year: 9.

Best Italian food

  1. Cossetta
  2. Buca di Beppo
  3. Amore Victoria
  4. Broders'
  5. Campiello
  6. D'Amico
  7. Figlio
  8. Vescio's
  9. Maggiano's Little Italy
  10. Punch Pizza
  

Best Mexican food

  1. Pancho Villa
  2. Masa
  3. Pepitos
  4. El Loro
  5. Chipotle
  6. Little Tijuana
  7. Salsa a la Salsa
  8. Taco Bell
  9. Boca Chica
  10. Taco Morelos


French Meadow baked goods for sale at the State Fair. Photo by Steve Rice.

Best bakery

  1. French Meadow
  2. Wuollet
  3. Franklin Street Bakery
  4. Cupcake
  5. Yum!
  6. Turtle Bread Company
  7. Lunds
  8. A Baker's Wife
  9. New French Bakery
  10. Rustica
  

Restaurants we wish were in the Twin Cities

  1. Waffle House
  2. In-N-Out Burger
  3. Steak 'n Shake
  4. Shakey's Pizza
  5. Dunkin Donuts
  6. El Pollo Loco
  7. Jack in the Box
  8. Skyline Chili
  9. Gino's East
  10. Chick-Fil-A
"I love Cupcake! The cinnamon pull-aparts are incredible! You must travel to Woodbury and try a scone from Expressly Yours." --VanillaVodka


Brit's Pub. Photo by Margaret Andrews.
  

Best patios

  1. Brit's Pub
  2. Stella's Fish Cafe
  3. Psycho Suzi's
  4. Solera
  5. Joe's Garage
  6. The Local
  7. Black Forest Inn
  8. W.A. Frost & Company
  9. Sweeney's Saloon
  10. Aster Cafe

Best Thai food

  1. Chiang Mai Thai
  2. King and I
  3. Sawatdee
  4. True Thai
  5. Taste of Thailand
  6. Amazing Thailand
  7. Tum Rup Thai
  8. Chino Latino
  9. Big Bowl
  10. Ruam Mit Thai
  

Favorite buffets

  1. Old Country Buffet
  2. Holy Land
  3. Green Mill Sunday brunch
  4. CiCi's Pizza
  5. Q. Cumbers
  6. Mystic Lake Casino
  7. Dixies on Grand
  8. Old Chicago
  9. Everest on Grand
  10. Godfather's


Strawberry poppyseed salad with chicken from Panera Bread. Photo by Joel Koyama.
  

Where to get a great salad

  1. Panera Bread
  2. Whole Foods
  3. Pizza Luce
  4. D. Brian's
  5. Zelo
  6. Punch Pizza
  7. Q. Cumbers
  8. Leaning Tower of Pizza
  9. Ecopolitan
  10. Byerly's
"My favorite salad growing up was Jakeeno's. The antipasto with their unique Italian dressing and the fact that it could feed two hungry people makes it stand out." --AlphaBean

Best fries in town

  1. McDonald's
  2. Chatterbox
  3. Barbette
  4. State Fair
  5. 112 Eatery
  6. Matt's Bar
  7. Herkimer
  8. Annie's Parlor
  9. Grumpy's
  10. Champps
  

Best places to dine solo

  1. Chipotle
  2. Taco Bell drive-thru
  3. Al's Breakfast
  4. French Meadow
  5. Mickey's Diner
  6. Panera Bread
  7. Gigi's Cafe
  8. Barbette
  9. The Bad Waitress
  10. Mission Bar


Punch Pizza. Photo by Jennifer Simonson.

Most underrated / overlooked restaurants

  1. Punch Pizza
  2. Joe's Garage
  3. Pancho Villa
  4. Totino's
  5. Uncle Franky's
  6. Roasted Pear
  7. Gardens of Salonica
  8. Pizza Nea
  9. Bombay Bistro
  

Great sandwiches (hot or cold)

  1. Jimmy John's
  2. Potbelly
  3. Davanni's
  4. Milio's
  5. French Meadow
  6. Pizza Luce
  7. Caffrey's
  8. Manny's Tortas
  9. Erbert & Gerbert's
  10. Good Earth
Punch has "awesome pizza - and even better that it is done so quickly. I think it takes 90 seconds in the oven or something silly like that. If it wasn't so dang good, I'd call it fast food." --PeterHDK


Crab cakes at Hell's Kitchen. Photo by Tom Wallace.
  

Best brunch

  1. Hell's Kitchen
  2. French Meadow
  3. Bar Abilene
  4. Egg & I
  5. Uptown Bar
  6. Town Talk Diner
  7. The Modern Cafe
  8. Birchwood Cafe
  9. Ike's
  10. Moose & Sadie's
"Brunch is more than just the quality of food. It's about the experience. It's an onslaught of delicious brunch food and drink that causes you to leave the restaurant feeling happy, energized and ready for a food nap." --AlphaBean

The List of Lists '08...

Introduction || Our favorites || Music || Dining || Bars and drinking || Movies || Media || Fashion || Romance || Office || Minnesota || Twin Cities || Neighborhoods || On the cheap || Miscellaneous

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Hotness

Vita.mn presents the Hotness 2010 gala at Graves 601 Hotel. Enjoy drink specials, giveaways, performances by Maria Isa and the cast of "Rent," DJ sets and more as the finalists for Twin Cities' sexiest men and women are announced. The event is free and open to everyone.