Category Archives: Restaurant

Restaurant

Redstone Grill – Eden Prairie, MN

Redstone Grill, 8000 Eden Road, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344

I have eaten at Redstone Grill on a number of occasions.  It is a surprisingly happening place all days of the week.  The bar area is buzzing.  People keep pouring in.  I do not know where they all go, but they all seem to find a place.

The seat next to the fireplace is quite warm, hot really.  They will turn it off if you ask.  The main dining area is dark, but perfectly so.  You can read the menu.  You can see just fine, but there is no denying the darkness.  It is actually a very comforting and adds to the atmosphere.  I like this place very much.

This is a higher end restaurant.  The prices aren’t super high, but they are above average.  It is also a cash of you get what you pay for.

The portions are huge.  I have see a flat bread appetizer easily serve two.  The tenderloin is by far the largest one I have ever been served.  It is also one of the most tender cuts of meat.  The portion of mashed potatoes is a meal unto itself.  Their shrimp appetizers are extremely good.

Redstone port wine

Save room for dessert.  The gigantic slice of chocolate cake served with two scoops of ice cream comes drizzled with chocolate syrup.  They ask before they add it.  Say yes.  Also have them bring a glass of port wine paired to the cake.  Amazing wine, seriously.

If you want to impress and can afford it check out Redstone.  It is worth it.

Restaurant

Egg Roll King – Apple Valley, MN

Egg Roll King – 15100 Cedar Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124

We were driving around Apple Valley, MN when we saw a sign for Egg Roll King.  It seemed like a bold statement and claim so we stopped.

The place was busy.  Granted there were only a few tables and chairs inside.  More than most with such a small rental space, but a lot of the tables were taken.  We didn’t come for a sit down meal.

Egg Roll King 6

The menu is interesting.  You can order 2 different types of main courses along with your choice of rice for next to nothing.  I didn’t expect much for that price.  They also have a number of different egg rolls.  You can also order just this main course or that main course.

It takes a while to get your meal because this place is flooded with take out orders.  People call them in, walk in like us, or order online.  In the amount of time we were there we saw a ton of food being served.  People eating in the restaurant, take out orders being picked up, and the occasional delivery order.

I had high hopes for this meal with all of the patrons.

They finally give us our two meals and we head home.  I bag is very heavy.

Egg Roll King 15

When we open up our meals the amount of food in each one is shocking.  I do not see one meal.  I see about three meals in each box.  Now I have a cheap meal and a ton of food.  I am a little scared.

To my surprise it tastes pretty good.  Oh, and the egg rolls were perfect.  Small and tight egg rolls cooked perfectly.

Egg Roll King 11

If you live in Apple Valley and close enough to drive there I would recommend Egg Roll King.  Especially is you are looking for a cheap meal and still tastes pretty good.

Restaurant

Andiamo – Eagan, MN

Andiamo – 1629 Lena Ct #100, Eagan, MN 55122

Andiamo is an Italian restaurant and arguably the best restaurant in all of Eagan, or at least the southern side of Eagan.  Very few great restaurants are located in Eagan, MN.  Restaurants on the southern side of Eagan have a hard time making it, but Andiamo is always a happening place.

The seating is a little odd.  There are many half booths around the walls.  One side is a booth and the other side is a set of chairs.  It is often too loud to hear in the restaurant.  The last time we went we ended up in a corner booth and that wasn’t an issue.

I love the chicken andiamo.  Those capers in combination with the bacon and chicken are amazing.

chicken andiamo

The food is very good.  Sure you are paying for Italian food, but the sauces make it great.  It also makes it better than I can make at home.  Do yourself a favor and order dessert.  I suggest the tiramisu.

Andiamo 9

If you find yourself in Eagan, MN check out Andiamo.  You will enjoy it.  It is a very nice restaurant at a reasonable price.

Restaurant, Travel

Smashburger

Smashburger – chain restaurant

Eagan location – 1270 Promenade Pl, Eagan, MN 55121

Smashburger!  I am told that you are not supposed to smash a burger while making it which makes me think someone was told that and said, whatever I will do what I want.  Personally I love Smashburgers.  They are nice and thin.  I do not know why people like thick burgers.  No one needs half a pound of ground beef.  No, no, no.  All you need is one thin patty and the right bread and toppings.

Pick your sandwich:  beef or chicken if you like.  Add a side.  I like they Smashfries.  The flavoring added to it is very nice.  Also I love the thin fries.  I wonder if McDonald’s would be as good as Smashburger if they had not gone down the path of low quality versus the obviously high quality food that you will receive at Smashburger.

You have other choices of course.  I like their malts.

If you find yourself near a Smashburger I highly recommend eating there.  The sauces and grease might drip down your arm over onto your basket, but that is part of what makes this food amazing.

Smashburger malt

Apple Valley location – 7394 153rd St W #100, Apple Valley, MN 55124

If you are in Apple Valley on a Sunday and realize that you can’t get Chick-Fil-A look across the street and get yourself a burger.

smashburger 004

This particular location is very nice.

smashburger 008

Restaurant, Travel

La Fonda De Los Lobos, Eagan, MN

La Fonda De Los Lobos – 3665 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Eagan, MN 55122

La Fonda De Los Lobos is sort of an upscale Mexican restaurant.  Not a trendy upscale Mexican restaurant, but not your normal Mexican food restaurant either.  It is hard to explain.  It is kind of a dive and at the same time you know the food wasn’t just slapped together or reheated.

Some of the items on the menu are not what you expect.  They aren’t bad at all.  In fact once you get past the items on your plate not meeting your expectations the meals are actually pretty good.

This isn’t cheep Mexican food, but at the same time the meals aren’t expensive.  It is very much a get what you pay for experience and what you get is pretty good.

La Fonda front door

The restaurant is upstairs.  Just walk in the front and I think most of the time you wait to be seated.  It is an older establishment, but that isn’t a bad thing.  Enjoy your meal.

La Fonda back door

If you are looking for a little fun head downstairs or just park around back and go in that door.  There is a nice patio area that you can use in the summer, spring, and fall.

The bar downstairs has 4 pool tables, pull tabs, games all around the edge.  You can join their league if you are really into pool.  You can use the jukebox.  The drinks are great.  They have a beer menu and not a drink menu, but the bartender can make you whatever you want.  Their cosmo is quite nice.  You can also purchase a shot of Jagermeister if you want.  They have a machine for that.

La Fonda tables

The people.  I kind of love the people that go to this particular bar.  I have seen some of the oddest things.  I have spoken with some of the retirees that hang out at the bar until it picks up around 5.  That is when everyone who gets off work will start arriving and when the real fun begins, or so I am told.

Check out La Fonda De Los Lobos yourself.  I think you will enjoy it.

Restaurant, Travel

Casper’s Cherokee

Casper’s Cherokee – 4625 Nicols Rd, Eagan, MN 55122

Caspers Cherokee

The two world’s of Casper’s: the exciting bar and the poser restaurant.

I like Casper’s bar.  I have had some fun gathers in this large barn like building.  They offer free taco bar which isn’t very good in my opinion, but kind of on par with everything else pertaining to their food.  What can you really expect from a free taco bar.  Avoid the meat and you will be happy.

The bar has pull tabs which seems to be a staple item in Minnesota.  Good luck.  I kind of like their Karaoke when they had it.  They have games that you can play depending on the night.  The music they play is pretty good.  The patio is sweet.

Caspers Cherokee Patio

The long island iced teas in the bar are really good.  There are many choices.  I would suggest avoiding the wine.  Especially their pinot noir, Mark West.  It is really bad.

They have appetizers which are pretty good.  The items on this menu seem more like meals than appetizers to me, but if you are hungry they will work.

Caspers 1

The restaurant is another story.  The food at this restaurant has never been very good.  For a place I would think of as a steak house they are particularly bad at cooking steak.

The original Casper’s caught on fire a few years ago.  The atmosphere in the restaurant prior to this fire was old school.  It had the feeling of an established old restaurant.  After the fire they updated everything and suddenly it felt like every other trendy restaurant out there.  Even the size of the menus suggests this.  It was extremely disappointing.  People look like they really enjoy the crab on Wednesday so maybe that is worth eating.

I would love to make Casper’s one of the go to restaurants, but all of my experiences with their food has been mediocre at best.

If you are looking for a fun place to go for happy hour, yes, head to Casper’s Cherokee.  If you want a good meal go anywhere else.

Restaurant, Travel

Jake’s City Grill

Jake’s City Grill – 1288 Promenade Pl, St Paul, MN 55121

Jake's City Grill Storefront

Jake’s City Grill has really good food.  There is no doubt about that.  Although they do occasionally overcook their prime rib, when they cook it right their French dip is very good.  I like trying their specials for the night because the chief is actually good at putting together very tasty food combinations.

Jake's City Grill tenderloin

For instance this is a tenderloin in a mushroom sauce over some sort of hash brown patty.  It was delightful.  My favorite part was the sauce.  A good sauce is hard to find and this one was perfect.

Jake's City Grill tenderloin 2

Jake’s serves a variety of salads, sandwiches, steaks, an Alfredo, battered fish, shrimp, and pizza.  It is basically American food with a few exceptions.

Jake’s is great for happy hour or drinks out with friends as well.  The bar area is straight ahead as you walk in.  The dining area is off to the right.  I have had the basic happy hour here and everyone liked the drinks.  I think my going away party was also at Jake’s and I remember the food being good and of course the drinks.

Jake's City Grill drink

One thing you will want to do is buy a mixed drink or a beer because their wine pours are very small.  The wine they serve is good, but when you get your glass you will say, really?

My biggest complaint about Jake’s has always been the speed at which they serve their meals, or should I say the lack of speed.  I also cannot stand how loud it is.  Saying that the last time I went the food arrived in a decent amount of time and I could actually hear.  I think it really matters where you sit in the restaurant.

If you are going to Jake’s for lunch plan on spending more than an hour.  You will enjoy the food, but if you are pressed for time you may want to eat somewhere else.

If you are looking for a good, not very expensive night out head on down to Jake’s and enjoy yourself.

Restaurant, Travel

Naf Naf Grill

Naf Naf Grill – 13250 Technology Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Middle Eastern fast food – What?  Yes, that’s right, a fast food Middle Eastern restaurant in Minnesota.

Inside of Naf Naf

You get the feel of walking through a Chipotle in the layout and the way you get to build your own pita or bowl.  How it works:

Naf Naf menu

Start by choosing a pita or a bowl.  You get a pita with a bowl so unless you are planning on eating everything there I would go with the bowl.  In the bowl you can get rice, lettuce, or hummus.  The rice is amazing and the hummus is so good.  I get both.

Next the meat or vegetarian option.  You can choose between chicken or steak shawarma or Falafel.  A shawarma is a way of preparing meat on a spit and cook for an extended period of time, up to a day.  Falafels are chickpeas smash and formed into a ball and then deep-fried.  Falafels are incredible.  I highly suggest trying these.

Next add your salad and garnishes.  You can have chopped salad, purple cabbage salad, sumac onions, and/or pickles.  I have tried and like the chopped salad.  Pick your preference.

Now add your favorite sauces.  The tahini sauce is a must in my books.  They also offer a garlic sauce.  I think you would choose one or the other on these.  You can then get the green sauce s’khug or the red sauce called fire sauce.  When I asked for the hottest sauce they had they gave me the red sauce.  When I asked for hot sauce they gave me the green sauce.  I believe the red may have been hotter and I love hot sauces, but honestly the green sauce gave the whole thing a much better flavor.  They are both hot so get either one.

Side dishes:

Naf fries are kind of like American fries as apposed to French fries in that they are thin slices of potatoes.  They are cooked like French fries and not in a pan like American fries.  Overall they are the best of both worlds.  They are also very salty.  I have found them somewhat overwhelming in their saltiness at times.

Lentil soup is another option.  I have never tried it so I cannot give an opinion on this one.

Basmati rice is your third option for a side.  I can only imagine ordering this if I went with the pita instead of the bowl.  Their rice is very good.

Restaurant, Travel

Dragon Jade – Minnetonka

Dragon Jade – 14406 Excelsior Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345

Website (Facebook)

Dragon Jade is a sit down Chinese restaurant with no buffet.  It is rather nice.  The music is set at a low enough level that you can easily converse.  The decor is very Chinese.  I love their dragon arch which you pass through to get to the main eating area.

Dragon Jade archway

The staff at the Dragon Jade is the best.  Quite possibly the most attentive waiters and waitresses that you will find anywhere.  Plus when you like things a certain way you need only ask once and then you will get it that way from that point forward.  Of course that depends on getting the same waitress.  They do everything that they can to make sure your meal is just right.

The pricing are low, but the quality does not seem to reflect the low prices.  At the Dragon Jade you get more than you pay for.  They have full meal choices which include soup, egg roll, and the main dish for less than ten dollars.  You can also order dishes and appetizers to share.

Try the cream cheese wantons.  Maybe with fresh spicy mustard.  It is intense.

wantons with sweet and sour and fresh spicy mustard

The garlic chicken is pretty good.

garlic chicken

Two people should not be able to eat that well for that little, but at the Dragon Jade you can.

Restaurant

China Town Buffet, Cody

China Town Buffet, 937 Sheridan, Cody Wyoming 82414

China Town Buffet is a pretty good Chinese buffet downtown Cody, WY.  I have never had a bad meal at this buffet.  Everyone I know in the area likes to eat there.  The food is fresh and cooked just right.  The flavors are subtle and not overwhelming.  You can add some additional sauces if you wish.

China Town Buffet 5.16 1

They only serve buffet.  You can get it to go or you can dine in.  The tables are clean.  There is one room with all of the food and a separate dining area.  The people that run it are really nice and friendly.

You can choose to eat inside our in the large outdoor seating area.

side shot of China Town in Cody, WY

The dinner buffet is slightly more than the lunch buffet, but has a few more higher end items on it.

Here is the website and menu:

http://chinatowncody.com/home.html