Category Archives: Restaurant

Urbana Craeft Kitchen & Market, Bloomington, MN

August 13, 2016 Linda

Urbana Craeft Kitchen & Market, 3200 W 81st St, Bloomington, MN 55425

Urbana is a trendy urban restaurant located in the new Hyatt Regency hotel. There is an outdoor dining area, a little market area, and tons of tables.

I have eaten there twice. Once for lunch and once for dinner. The meals are all a bit strange so pay attention to what going into your food. Some of the people I ate with ordered an item they love only to find out that it had an ingredient that they did not.

The market offers snacks, juice, and Star Bucks coffee. You can pop in, get what you need and go back to your hotel or head out into the city for the day.

I had a pita for lunch. The one I chose was pretty good. It had turkey and other items in it. Overall I was pleased with this selection. Those in the party that ordered a burger seemed happy for the most part. One of their burgers has fontina cheese which is one of my favorite cheeses. The sauce they give you for your fries is homemade and is a bit like sriracha, but not quite. It seemed a bit bold for Minnesota and frankly I think most people would have preferred a normal ketchup.

The dinner meal I ordered a crusted filet with baby potatoes and asparagus. It was the perfect amount of food for me. If you were hungry, well, if you want a lot of food don’t order a filet. It wasn’t the best filet that I have ever had. It was just okay. The potatoes were perfect with a great seasoning. The asparagus wasn’t too big.

Overall the prices are high, but no higher than I would expect in a hotel. If you are staying at the Hyatt then by all means take a meal here.

I wasn’t impressed, but it isn’t bad. It just isn’t great and I was expecting more. Most food out there is worse, but if I am going out to dinner this restaurant isn’t on my list. I wouldn’t say no if someone suggested it.

It is a place with different flavors. If you are looking for a change try it and perhaps with luck you will find a flavor you enjoy.

Restaurant, Travel

The Mason Jar, Eagan, MN

August 13, 2016 Linda

The Mason Jar, 1565 Cliff Rd #1, Eagan, MN 55122

Connected to the cupcake factory is The Mason Jar. There are mason jars everywhere. It is a theme.

The hummus and vegetable tray is pretty good.

The item on the menu that interested me was the different pot pies that they offer. I chose the chicken and vegetable. The topping is not a super tasty pie crust. It has its own good qualities. Overall I hoped for more. It was pretty good, but not great.

It is something different. Give it a try, perhaps your pallet will love it more than mine. It was cooked properly. the ingredients were of good quality. Beyond that it is just person preference.

Restaurant, Travel

Teresa’s Eagan, MN

August 13, 2016 Linda

Teresa’s 1020 Diffley Road, Eagan, MN

Teresa’s is a huge Mexican restaurant with a new location in Eagan. The building is really big, which is nice because you will not need to worry about having to wait to eat.

They serve all of the standards. You have to ask for hot sauce, but they have El Yucateco. They also have a homemade hot sauce which is flavorful, but not hot.

They start you out with chips and salsa. It is only one kind of salsa, but it is very good. The chips were very tasty as well. They are not too thin or too think, but just right.

This is on par with El Loro, not quite as good as El Parian, but very close and similar.

I highly suggest checking this place out especially if you live nearby. You can even sit outside if you want or at the bar.

Coffee Shop, Travel

The Fix, Buffalo, WY

August 13, 2016 Linda

The Fix, 323 E Hart St, Buffalo, WY 82834

This is the most unassuming place I have ever stepped into. From the outside you do not expect anything of note. Step inside and walk into any great coffee shop. Okay, there aren’t any lounge couches, but this place looks great.

Being from Minnesota the drinks are a bit weak. You will only get one shot of espresso in a small so if you are expecting two be aware. This is pretty normal, but like I said coming from Minnesota it is different to me.

I tried one of the desserts. The two we bought were pretty good. We took them to go because we were just passing through.

They do not keep a car out front so if you want coffee just stop. They have a sign and that is the only thing that will let you know that they are open even if they do not look open.

If you are looking for a coffee shop drink stop in and get your fix at The Fix.

Restaurant, Travel

Taco Time, Lyman, WY

August 13, 2016 Linda

Taco Time, 104 N Main St, Lyman, WY 82937

What time is it? It’s Taco Time!

While passing through Wyoming and Utah we came across this other Mexican fast food chain restaurant Taco Time. I was hesitant to try it at first, fearing it was just another Taco Bell, but hunger set in on our return trip so we veered off the interstate a few miles into Lyman, WY and tried Taco Time.

First, I want to say that Lyman is a sweet little town. Don’t get to worked up about everyone checking out your vehicle, new people in small towns just draw attention. This particular Taco Time is about 3 miles off the interstate. They seem to really care about cleanliness, service, and quality, not sure if that is standard or just this particular Taco Time, but it was as good as can be expected from this kind of fast food Mexican food chain.

Their philosophy is fresh, real ingredients which puts them above some of the other chains like this one.

I bought a platter to get a sampling of the different foods. It was a lot of food, not very expensive, and looked amazing. The beef is very lean, which I do not personally like. The fat is where the taste is, but it makes it less greasy and healthier I suppose. The chicken is clearly real chunks of chicken. I prefer shredded chicken in my Mexican food, but it is a testament to the real food part of their philosophy. The tots were good and the chips were okay.

Overall it was worth the stop. I think it was really worth picking this one a little off the road and in a small town.

Is it going to be the greatest Mexican food you ever ate, no. Is it going to be the best fast food Mexican food you ever ate, depends on your tastes. I still prefer Taco Johns, but I would try this chain again.

Restaurant, Travel

Carlos O’Kelly’s, Rochester, MN

July 23, 2016 Linda

Carlos O’Kelly’s, 4825 Hwy. 52 North, Rochester, MN 55901

While this Carlos O’Kelly’s is easy to get to and there is plenty of parking, it is nothing more than a chain store. It was clean. The food was just OK.

The tortilla chips were very good. They were thin and crisp and clearly fresh, or at least they seemed to be fresh. We tried to order guacamole to go with the chips, but they couldn’t make any without onions in it which means it is pre-made somewhere else.

The options are plentiful. This is a Tex-Mex restaurant. It has everything that you would expect from such a restaurant.

Two neat options where their braille menu and their all vegetarian menus. You just need to ask.

What I ordered was supposed to be spicy hot. I was most of the way through when I remembered that fact. It all tasted OK, but just OK. Nothing was incredible. It all tasted very chain restaurant, which is what it was.

If you want to try this place, go for it. If you are trying to decide between this place and somewhere else, I would try somewhere else. Unless you want to play it safe. Carlos O’Kelly’s is a safe choice.

Restaurant, Travel

Our Place, Cody, WY

July 2, 2016 Linda

Our Place, 148 Yellowstone Ave, Cody, WY 82414

Our Place is a breakfast and lunch place that opens early at 6 and closes at 2. We stopped in for breakfast.

The first thing I noticed was the smell of something burning. It worried me a bit. The second thing I noticed was the free WiFi which I desperately needed.

Despite the initial worrisome smell the food was amazing. The portions were huge, too big to eat really. Everything was cooked perfectly and it all tasted really good. I went on the wild side and tried the Mexican eggs on the menu, can’t remember what they were called, but they were good. I am not a fan of green sauce, but that wasn’t an issue, it tasted good anyway. I was told that the biscuits and gravy were good as well.

The decorations on the walls were really cool and grouped accordingly. Lots of windmills and badges.

I would highly recommend eating at Our Place. You will walk away full and happy.

Lodging, Restaurant, Travel

Little America, Little America, WY

July 2, 2016 Linda

Little America, I-80, Little America, WY 82929

The greatest place on Earth, or in America, or maybe I was really tired at this point in the drive. We were driving to SLC from Cody, WY and along I-80 we kept seeing these signs for Little America. The big draw was the really cheap cones for the family traveler and everything you could possibly want for the truck driver. We pulled off to get out of the road construction and because the signs really made it seem like Little America was a magical place.

The “town” Little America seems to consist of a hotel, a gas station, and fuel center with a repair shop. It was clearly built with a comprehension idea in mind. If you are in a car you go left. If you are in a truck you go right.

We went inside to eat at the restaurant/convenience store. They have burgers and fries and corn dogs and of course cones. They cook the burgers all of the way through. I didn’t think the food was the best, but it was okay. I heard the corn dog was good. Everyone who stopped in to get a cone looked overjoyed.

The rest of the convenience store is amazing. There are souvenirs like shirts and hats. There are things like pickled quail eggs. It really did seem like a magical place.

The bathrooms where incredible. I literally almost walked back out to make sure I was still in a convenience store. You walk in and there is an upscale sitting area where you can wait for whoever else went in with you. Each stall is its own little room. Everything about it was really nice.

There are hotels that you can stay in at Little America. You get a discount if you eat at the convenience store and get a room. It is really a travel paradise, not a destination, but a great place to stay or stop along the way.

The entire design was beautiful.

Restaurant, Travel

Hill City Cafe, Hill City, SD

July 2, 2016 Linda

Hill City Cafe, 209 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745

This little cafe on the main street of Hill City seems to be a local favorite. The staff is friendly and very happy. They seem genuinely happy.

We stopped in here to get a decent breakfast and the food was good. It is just basic cafe food. No surprises, but everything is Western themed. Check out the menu. If you want a good breakfast this is the place.

Hill City Cafe is just a nice cafe to eat normal food in.

Museum, Restaurant, Travel

Dairy Twist, Hill City, SD

July 2, 2016 Linda 1 Comment

Dairy Twist, 12647 US-16, Hill City, SD 57745

Yes, go here and eat. The food is good old fashioned drive inn food and you will love every bite.

I had the burger and cheese curds which were amazing. You can get other items as well like shakes and cones and fries and chicken strips and chili dogs. It may have been the best place that we ate during this particular trip. Be careful showing up late, sometimes they just close a bit early.

You can eat both inside and outside. There is a picnic area just outside of the indoor eating area.

It is the interesting part about the Dairy Twist. There are agates, arrowheads, and skulls in a display case in the eating area. I think they were real dinosaur bones.

If you are in Hill City, SD you must eat at the Dairy Twist. They time that they are open is limited so if it is open grab your food while you can.

Dilettante Requiem of Chaos

Category Archives: Restaurant

Urbana Craeft Kitchen & Market, Bloomington, MN

The Mason Jar, Eagan, MN

Teresa’s Eagan, MN

The Fix, Buffalo, WY

Taco Time, Lyman, WY

Carlos O’Kelly’s, Rochester, MN

Our Place, Cody, WY

Little America, Little America, WY

Hill City Cafe, Hill City, SD

Dairy Twist, Hill City, SD

I was thinking about becoming a … today.