Porta Del Sol - Mound, MN

In a land rather barren of any significantly good eats lies Porta Del Sol. Cleverly placed in an area devoid of any Mexican restaurants, Porta Del Sol has been serving Mound for a couple years. Porta Del Sol offers in house dining with no frills. They also have a drive thru (which is a little confusing seeing as how they are not fast food) and will deliver for orders over $20. I've been to this restaurant several times, and am glad for a little taste of comfort in this mom and pop shop.

On my recent visit, I decided to try the Smothered Burrito (with chicken, a burrito topped with enchilada sauce and cheese - $8.99) and the jalapeno poppers ($2.49 for 3.) Let me point out that NOTHING is fried at Porta Del Sol, which is music to my ears. Don't get me wrong: I like fried food, but I appreciate the time and care taken due to the lack of fryers. Nothing sits under heat lamps or in dirty grease all day.




The platter comes with chips and pico. While the chips are the white flour variety (personal preference is for corn - no fault of Porta's whatsoever) and never warm like I hope for, they are good. I always ask for the hot pico, which is never really hot at all. But it is fresh and light, and has all the components that create a fine pico de gallo.

Jalapeno Poppers
I was a little curious about these, since they are baked. As a result, some of the crisp is lost. But it isn't soggy or totally soft, as the exterior does offer a slight bready crunch. They are good for what they are, but I do find myself longing for more cream cheese.

Smothered Burrito
Recently, I overheard someone at the neighboring Legion mention that Porta's refried beans taste like canned. While my personal taste is for black beans, I still think that's a harsh and ill-advised statement. The beans are fine, a step above canned, and the black beans are even better. The red rice is good, much better than what I could make at home. The Burrito was delicious. The enchilada sauce is lush, and gives a nice cumin kick. The fillings are pretty standard (beans, lettuce, cheese, meat) but as a whole, the burrito is very successful. My only complaint is that my dish came out kind of lukewarm, which confused me.

In addition to these, other favorites are the gordita (meat, beans, cheese, potatoes and peppers stuffed into a pita pocket like shell. See this), the flautas (literally smothered in melted cheese, basically a meat and cheese roll up inside small corn tortillas), the tamales, the chalupa (basically a double decker style taco. Don't let the taco bell terms confuse you!) and the enchiladas are all really good. I get the chimichurri sauce with everything. I compare it to McDonalds mac sauce, but mexican. It consists of mayo, chipotles, and ketchup, and is not your traditional green chimichurri. It is spicy, sweet and smoky all at once. I can't confess as to the authenticity of Porta Del Sol, and I don't really care. It tastes damn good and a welcome addition to the culinary wasteland I inhabit.

http://www.portadelsolmound.com/

The Depot Tavern - Downtown Minneapolis

Introducing itself as First Avenue's staple bar and restaurant, The Depot Tavern opened it's doors in June of 2010. Not to be confused with St. Paul's The Depot, this location provides a neutral place to hang out before or after a show. The interior space is inviting, if minimal. Be sure to bring a buck or two, because regardless of the fact that The Depot is a bit less fancy than some downtown bars, it still costs if you are drinking outside of happy hour.

Upon my arrival around 9:30 PM, The Depot was packed. Luckily there was one bar seat open on the very left end of the bar, which I (barely) managed to squish myself into. I hunkered down, knowing I had awhile to hang out since I was waiting for company later. I reviewed the menu, and trying to keep it on the cheap (which I always have to do it seems), I decided on the Bacon Pepperjack Grilled Cheese on whole wheat ($7.50) and a side salad for $2 extra. I gave my order to a less than enthusiastic bartender (seriously, isn't that whole attitude thing so 2006??) and viewed the 2 tv screens which broadcast the current happenings on stage, in both the mainroom and the 7th St. Entry (Soul Asylum in one, Arctic Universe in the other.)

The Salad
I admit I was a little curious as to why I was never asked what kind of dressing I wanted or anything. But I figured out that all side salads must universally be the cesaer. The romaine was crunchy and fresh, but the salad was as overdressed as an evening gown at a beach party. I also think I tasted actual salt...I like salt, but was confused as to why it may have been sprinkled on top? The best part was the croutons. No overkill here, just a few croutons with some rye variations thrown in. They tasted homemade, and were soft and crumbly instead of hard and stale. Overall, an ok salad.

Bacon Pepperjack Grilled Cheese
I opted out of the potato selection and stuck with kettle chips. This was a slightly above average grilled cheese. The bread was hearty but softly grilled, making it a textural delight. The bacon was excellently executed, crumbled, crisp and salty throughout. The spice of the pepper jack came through well, and wasn't overly greasy. I got some significant garlic undertones somewhere as well, but I couldn't decipher if it was sandwich or salad ultimately.

Overall, The Depot was just ok. Nothing revolutionary. It felt a bit impersonal, and provides a neutral place to hang out if you have some extra time between engagements downtown. Seeing how the place thinned out around 1030 PM, and was near empty more towards close, I assume most people agree with my viewpoint. The Depot is likely here to stay. As they say; location, location, location.

http://thedepottavern.com/

Tea House - Dinkytown

Teahouse is best known for their authentic Chinese/Szechuan cuisine. Adding onto their already popular locations in Plymouth and Downtown Minneapolis, they've established themselves in Dinkytown. Kitty corner to the Days Inn, in the old Bakers Square building, my long burning curiosity found itself there on a chilly Monday afternoon.

The exterior is still very Bakers Square-ish. But the interior is slightly redone with oriental touches. A silky, floral accented material lines the booths, with a few cozy tables placed throughout. There is a small bar area, and a nice touch of color on a large wall with a glow of purple hued lights, and some botanical designs.



I sat in a booth, and started to examine the menu. I was surprised that I only recieved one menu. Isn't there supposed to be something about them having two menu's? One with more American-ized Chinese, and one with authentic Chinese? I was a little suprised at how standard some of the menu items were. On the contrary, they do offer some nice szechuan snacks (szechuan jelly noodles, spicy pork stomach) along with the more standard things we are used to seeing.

I was lunching it and wanted spicy, so I opted for the Chengdu Dan Dan Noodles on lunch special ($6.95) and cream cheese wontons ($4.25). I was feeling a bit unenthusiastic that day, which I'm sure came through in my overall demeanor. My waitress however, was great. Instead of scurrying away, she interjected little bits of casual sunshine here and there, without being overjoyed and annoying. She complimented my food choices, then brought me a pot of hot jasmine tea.

Cream Cheese Wontons

They come 6 to the plate, and with 2 sauces; your standard sweet and sour, and an INCREDIBLY hot mustard sauce. I'm serious - a little dot of this on my wonton made my nose burn and my eyes water significantly. The wontons themselves were nice - the wrapping itself was a bit more thick and chewy than I personally prefer. I like a thinner, more crispy skin. However, I was grateful for the abundance of cream cheese inside. Rich and globby, in the best way possible.

Chengdu Dan Dan Noodles

I was a little put off by the looks of this at first. I'm not sure exaclty what was crumbled on top. And secondly, it sat in a pool of oil and sauce. I gave it all a good stir and started in. The noodles were great. Chewy and thick...not quite an udon, but close. The spice level was very solid. I can take some moderate heat, and this dish delivered that and then some. There were pleasant traces of peanut oil, and I began to appreciate the sauciness of the dish. There wasn't a lot of complexity here, only a simple pleasure. I couldn't finish it all, and when I reheated it later, the spice level was more intense. Overall, a good spicy noodle dish for a cold day.

I'm not going to do a greats/not so greats anymore. I've outgrown it. But I will add the Urban Spoon link from time to time so you can see how things rate overall.



(link)

Kip's Irish Pub - St. Louis Park Minnesota

Mr H and I went on one of famous weekend restaurant hunts, and wound up at Kip's Irish Pub. Word has it that the pub was disassembled and shipped in separate pieces here to Minnesota. And it is a great looking little pub with standard dark wood, but also showcases some nice celtic design on many walls. It is a spacious bar and dining area, with some cozy nooks to escape to. The fact that it's inside the Marriott SW is a little disorienting, but ok.

Mr H. and I were seated, and immediately were uncomfortable. The chairs are the hodge podge sort you find in a irish pub themed restaurant, and some were quite stiff. We asked to change tables, and our waitress was less than pleasant with us. After we had perused the menu for awhile, Mr. H inquired the waitress opinion on some different things. To which she replied "Hm, they're all pretty good" or something of that equivalent. The menu reads like a schrizophrenic landscape. You can even get tuna tataki! How about an oyster bake with your reuben? My head, it spun.

We eventually decided on the Guinness Steak Shepherds Pie (him- and curiously NOT on the online menu...), and the BLT with fruit (me.)

BLT ($11)Basically this was my least favorite sandwich I've like, ever eaten. It was sloppy, the construction was of, the fillings were sparse and it wasn't flavorful overall. I'm sorry, but that's all I have to say about it.

Guinness Steak Shepherds Pie ($12)


It sure looks pretty, but that's where any and all attraction stops. The potatoes tasted instant, the whole dish was kinda lukewarm, and the savory gravy factor that you expect inside was nil. The garnish was almost obscene and completely unnecessary, and the 2 little pieces of burnt hard bread on the side were SUPPOSED to be irish soda breads? I'm sorry to give a bad review, as I ALWAYS try to find positives, but I won't go back to Kip's again for the food, but maybe I will give the bar a shot!

http://www.kipspub.com/

Raku - Edina, Minnesota

On my never-ending quest for a new sushi place to try, I am fortunate to be in a state where I will likely never run out of new sushi places to try! When I get a sushi craving, it hits hard. So Mr. H and I put our noses to the ground in search of a new, but CHEAP, sushi place.

We came upon Raku mainly because of the lunch specials. With a tight budget, I'm all about the sushi lunch experience! Mr H., also my chauffeur on many occasions, drove us to this crisp Edina shopping area in which Raku is nestled. Parking's a bitch. At least they have a ramp, albeit not a very convenient one.

Raku reckons itself an upscale Japanese fusion restaurant. The menu does boast of some seemingly maybe-kinda fusion items, and the sushi rolls are cleverly seperated into "raw" and " non-raw" categories. People who fear sushi because of the raw, this is the place for you. The specialty rolls are more diverse than many places I've been to, offering a chicken tempura roll and brown rice substitute. The decor is very modern and sleek. But as with many other restaurants I frequent for lunch lately, it was empty. I kind of wonder how a lot of places are staying afloat anymore? Unless you are in a prime location (and even sometimes THEN), it seems as if I am walking into many empty spaces these days.

So we sat in a nice booth, and I ordered my standard Ki-Ippon. The lunch menu offers a set menu for $16 a person. From it, you may order one soup OR salad, one appetizer, and one entree. We opted for the two rolls (one spicy crunchy salmon, one yellowtail) for $9 lunch special, which comes with miso soup. I also ordered gyoza, my sushi lunch appetizer staple.

Gyoza
Gyoza never varies much in flavor or texture. Regardless, this is one of the better gyoza I've had. It was firm on the outside, and soft and savory on the inside. The dipping sauce gave that sweet/sour/salty thing I love, and the pickled veggies on the side were lovely.

Spicy Crunchy Salmon and Yellowtail rolls



Normally, my sushi staple is unagi or yellowtail. To my surprise however, I enjoyed the spicy salmon roll the most. The yellowtail roll (wrapped inside the nori) was nondescript, and the nori paper on the outside was like thick paper. It wasn't overly chewy, but it wasn't as suple as I've experienced in other places. The Spicy Crunchy Salmon was excellent. Though it wasn't very spicy, it was well balanced texturally. I got that sushi umami that keeps us sushi lovers coming back for more and more. The pickled ginger was a tad too sweet, and the wasabi also seemed a little dull. The miso soup was one of the better I've had. Miso soup is a bona fide mystery to me. The flavors are very complex, and I don't exactly enjoy it. But I'm trying to figure it out. As with many Japanese foods, it is a full blown intellectual experience for me.

Greats
-Gyoza
-Atmosphere is perfect for a romantic night out
-They serve beer in the cutest glasses ever
-Spicy Crunchy Salmon Roll

Not so greats
-Parking
-Yellowtail roll
-that's it.

http://www.rakumn.com/index_flash.html

Stanley's - at Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/bars-in-minneapolis/stanley-snortheast-bar-room-review

The Spring Street Tavern - on my examiner.com

New review, please check it out!

http://www.examiner.com/bars-in-minneapolis/spring-street-tavern-and-club-underground-review

My Examiner review of the Knight Cap in Northeast Minneapolis

Check it out! One of my favorite dive bars in all of Northeast!

http://www.examiner.com/bars-in-minneapolis/the-knight-cap-a-classic-northeast-minneapolis-dive-review

The New Psycho Suzi's location!

Read all about it on my examiner.com page!


http://www.examiner.com/bars-in-minneapolis/the-new-psycho-suzi-s-revamped-and-less-cramped-review


Any feedback or critique is welcome.

I write on Examiner.com now!

Hey all! So, I am now an Examiner at examiner.com! Basically, it's a site compiled of people who like to blog and write about a wide array of topics. My topic is Minneapolis Bars. I do have a chance to get paid, but that depends on how much of an audience I gain, and how much traffic comes through my pages. I am waiting for my very first article to be reviewed and activated, but in the meantime you can go look at my bio here: www.examiner.com/bars-in-minneapolis/katrina-copeland

Just looking at my bio helps increase the views on my page...and eventually helps me make money at this silly hobby of mine. So please, support a fellow blogger and go check it out! Oh, and be sure to stay tuned here for my very first review, which is on the new Psycho Suzi's space in NE Minneapolis! I won't be reviewing food over there, but I will continue to do that here.

Happy Holidays!

Sticks Restaurant - Minneapolis

Sticks is connected to the wonderful Acme Comedy Club. They are known for having pretty great dinner/show packages, which I have taken advantage of in the past. I found out last minute that my FAVORITE comedian Emo Phillips was performing, so I was all over it!

Mr. H, myself and Ms. K piled in the car and off we went to the late showing. We each purchased a dinner/show package which works like this: $30 per person for the show, and up to $16 towards any entree on the menu. The best part is that you can simply call and make a reservation, then pay at the door when you arrive. They're never too busy, as I have never been turned down or redirected to a different time slot. You also get reserved seating, which is usually fairly close to the front. Basically, you pay for your own booze, or any difference in a higher priced entree. The entrees are anywhere from $13-$23, and they also have appetizers and dessert. The decor is quite elegant and romantic, with white tablecloths, dim lighting, and candles. The exposed brick and wood, complete with fireplace completes the ambience.

We three arrived, and ordered drinks. The drink menu has a few wines, and an assortment of specialty cocktails, martinis, and scotches. The alcohol isn't the cheapest, at around $8 a pop for a martini or specialty drink. I ordered the Red Apple Martini, which came in a small-ish martini glass and was good, but not great. Sticks menu is simple without being boring. I ordered the Grilled 8 oz. Angus Sirloin ( $16), and my company ordered the Seafood Linguine ($17.50) and the Mushroom Ravioli ($15.) They do serve a warm bread basket, which was perfectly standard.

8 oz Angus SirloinOk, so I don't get the whole meat-laying-on-top-of-a-knife thing. But whatever. This dish was excellent. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium, a seasoned crust was successfully achieved, and the meat was succulent. The potatoes were simple and fantastic, just 2 red potatoes cooked soft and lightly seasoned. The vegetables contained a lot of onions and zucchini, making it not my favorite but not terrible either. I was very pleased with this - it was well balanced, well composed and exquisite.

Mushroom Ravioli (Roasted Portabella, Shiitake and Crimini Mushrooms with Caramelized Onions, Mozzarella and Grana Padano Cheese Wrapped in Egg Ravioli, Served in a Marsala Mushroom Cream Sauce.)

Ok, so I know it looks like this thing has a mound of greasy cheese on it. Looks are deceiving! And admittedly, I was hesitant to try this because I don't care for mushrooms. But I folded and tried a bite, and oh my HEAVENS... it was pillowy, mushroomy, creamy, saucey DELIGHT. The cream sauce is rich and deep, the earth and meatiness of the mushrooms melt in your mouth, and the ravioli itself is pillowy but firm. This dish alone has almoooost turned me to mushrooms, as I will order it the next 3 places I dine that offer it. This dish was rich and satisfying, without being over the top and clingy. Was it the Grana Padano?? Who knows? I loved it.

Seafood Linguine - the picture of this didn't come out.Sorry!!
(Black Tiger Shrimp, Scallops, Little Neck Clams and Mussels, Sautéed with White Wine, Fresh Garlic, Seafood Broth and Plum Tomatoes.)

I was a little surprised when this arrived to the table swimming in red sauce. The description is a little misleading, as the sauce was a little spicy, and very marinara-like. It was a good red sauce, but overall this fell a little flat for me. I was expecting something light, fresh, with toothsome ocean aspects here and there. It wasn't any of those.

We finished in time to get to the show, even though they have a creme brulee cheesecake (my two favorite desserts EVER) that I MUST try when I go back.

Greats:
-The atmosphere- mellow and romantic.
-The service was spot on - not too soon or too long, and our waiter was down to earth and not annoying.
-The sirloin steak
-The awesome, off the hook mushroom ravioli

Not so greats
-Drinks are expensive and not worth the price (small, weak, etc)
-The description of the linguine was a bit off what we actually got..
The starter salad is nothing special.

http://www.acmecomedycompany.com/index2.php

Barrio - Downtown Minneapolis

Having never been to Barrio, and knowing I would be downtown before the Mark Lanegan/ Isobel Campbell concert, Mr. C and I opted to pop into Barrio.

Having been attracted by their small plates AND their prices, I was even more intrigued upon seeing the outside. Small, but not overly fancy or casual. We walked into a very cramped small space. To their credit, it was a Saturday night. I think we were lucky that we even got a table within 5 minutes. We were seated at the front window and perused the menu. The dinner menu consists of small plates for $7.50, and tacos and enchiladas for about $4 a pop. Wonderful! The larger dinner plates are around $18, however. The drink menu boasts around 100 tequila's, margaritas ($10 average) and several innovative and quite tasty sounding cocktails (EL TORO: Michelada style beer, slightly citrusy spicy salty on ice - $6) including non alcoholic (BABY CITA:
Limeade Martini with Cherry Foamer- $4.50.) I opted for a simple red sangria, which was better than most places I've had it, but not excellent. It was a bit watery, and the fruit element was underwhelming.

THE FOOD. (forgive the lack of pics - I lost a bunch so the pics/quality here are limited.)

Guacamole
I will begin by saying that I'm not sure why this is grouped in with small plates at $7.50. Furthermore confusing are the...radishes. However, this was a great guacamole, if a salty guacamole. It is served in a very heavy stone bowl, and it doesn't look like much but it was plenty enough for the two of us, keeping in mind we ordered a bunch of other stuff too. Side note: it came with this red sauce that I want to bottle and hoard away from others. It's smokey, tangy, a wee bit spicy, and gorgeous.

ADOBO GRILLED CHICKEN QUESADILLA (with roasted corn and poblano
peppers.)

Again more..radishes. Aside from that, the quesidilla was pretty standard. Tasty for sure, but nothing special popped out. The corn did add a lovely element to it.

DIVER SCALLOP CEVICHE (with grapefruit, orange,
cilantro & avocado.)

I have never had ceviche anywhere besides my own house. This was a must try, and it definitely did not disappoint. Chunks of soft, light scallops bathed in light citrus, sprinkled with some avocado. My only complaint would be that the citrus was a tad too light. Fortunately, they put little slices of habanero in there to balance it all out a bit. Overall, it was as good as I imagined a scallop ceviche to be!

SOFT SHELL CRAB TACO (with watermelon-tomatillo pico de gallo and avocado - $4)
This came out last, and was the least favorite option. The crab inside is deep fried, but soft. The taco shell is nice and soft; not hard from cooking, or too stale. But it was unremarkable. I didn't get the watermelon anywhere, and overall it was a little bland.

Afterwards came tequila time. I opted for the Sauza Cien Anos reposado, with a side chaser of white grapefruit cherry soda. Oh...I didn't mention those? Those little pops of light and bubble after the tequila bites you? They offer them as "tequila compadres", and they are $1.50 apiece! ( Blood Orange Soda,Tamarind, Cinnamon Cola, Apple Ginger Soda, Red Bull etc.) Excellent.

The Sauza was not my favorite tequila, and our server was none the more wise about what it was like when I inquired. That was the only problem I encountered with the service during my visit. I've heard people complain about it, but for us it was bang on. The food came out in perfect timed sequence, about 5-10 min between each plate. Especially for how extremely busy they were, I give them credit for being so spot on.

Greats
-Atmosphere. I want to go back when it's less busy for sure.
-Tequila Compadres!
-Scallop Ceviche
-The red sauce
-The service was good-food was timed well.

Not so greats
-It was really busy
-The soft shell crab taco
-Radishes?
- Guac is 7 bux

http://www.barriotequila.com/Barrio_mpls.html

Stanley's Bar Room - NE Mpls

It was with much anticipation that Mr. C and I approached Stanley's on a invitingly chilly Wednesday evening. Myself (and many others in the Minneapolis area) have been eagerly awaiting the revamp of the old Stasiu's space. So, off we went!

The exterior doesn't look totally different from Stasiu's, with the exception of a patio and some windows in lieu of a haggard wood exterior. The interior is another story. It's completely different. I won't go into it much here, as you can see plenty of pics on Stanley's web site. For me personally, I felt the ghost of The Times past in my bones...dark wood, dim lighting, same type of crowd.

We grabbed a spot by the window and perused food and drink menu's. Stanley's boasts over 30 (!!) beers on tap. This is a list that many beer enthusiasts would be pleased with, with over half of them being local brews. The beer list conveniently describes each beer, and also includes the alcohol content (but not the price..) I had a tough time choosing, so our waiter brought me 2 samples, which I immediately did not like. He suggested I try something different, so I got 2 other samples to try, one of which I did like this time. When the waiter came back, I pointed to the one I liked (which was obviously lighter in color than the other one) and said that's what I wanted. Somehow, the waiter ended up bringing me a Brau Brothers Scotch Ale (which was what I THOUGHT was the one I liked) but it was the wrong one. We all looked in confusion at the sample beer I had in front of me, the one I liked (confused yet?) and wondered which one it was. I apologized to the waiter who basically shoved the Brau Bros beer at me and said "here, just take this" and promptly walked away. Time out.

I know that I probably got confused over which beer I was ordering. And I know I ordered 4 samples, and it was very nice to be accomodated as such. However, as a server, it is YOUR job to remember what people like, especially if you are serving/suggesting different things that the customer is indecisive about. Never should you get impatient with a customer because they got confused about what they tasted/ordered. I know to some, service doesn't matter. But to me, it does.

So I marched over to the bar with my beer, told the bartender I didn't care for it and he refilled it with a beer of my choice, no questions asked. And to Stanley's credit, they have a very unique, yet accessible and affordable wine list. The cheapest wine by the glass is a PINOT!! (Napa Cellars Pinot Noir - $5.50.) Very nice!

Whew. So after all that, we started looking at food. Stanley's menu offers modern american food/comfort food; sandwiches, soups, and entrees (meatloaf, beef brisket, grilled cheese, beet salad.) Mr. C and I decided to share a Stanley's burger (Stuffed with brisket and gouda, served with carmelized onions and skin on fries - $12) and the Crispy Sausage Stuffed Olives ($3.)

Shitty phone pic time! (The Olives)
I know you can't really see it well, but there are 5 olives and they are breaded. I don't think they are deep fried (I don't think you CAN deep fry an olive??) but they are light and crisp. The salty brine of the olive against the meatiness of the sausage is interesting. I wouldn't say one marries to the other especially well, but overall it is quite a tasty treat.

Stanley's Burger
The burger was cooked perfectly, It was a firm medium, which is the opposite of a sloppy medium. Sometimes, mediums just drip. And the buns get soggy, and your arms get messy. This was very flavorful, but the brisket and gouda inside were mostly undetcted. The bun offered nothing special, and the pickles were more cucumber than pickle. The fries, although skin on and tasty, were soft and borderline soggy. We devoured every single thing in about 5 minutes. The size wasn't suitable for sharing, so I recommend this as a one person meal.

Overall, I will go back to Stanley's and keep trying. Even if for nostalgia sake alone. The atmosphere isn't suited quite to my tastes (dives for LIFE.) However, you can't beat a $5.50 pinot noir in a stemless wine glass in a laid back place.

http://www.stanleysbarroom.com/index.php

Ciento- St. Louis Park

Ciento is a new mexican restaurant where Major's once stood. It boasts itself a tequila bar and mexican kitchen. They serve the usual Mexiamerican food - enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos and some combination plates. On a quite hungry Tuesday evening, Mr. H, his son, and I decided to try this new place out.

I admit - I was judgmental about this place. Could it be that a restaurant replacing Majors is at all good? Look how brazenly and generically it's displayed, easily viewable to 394 passerby! I entered with some trepidation.

The interior is what you would expect - some mexican plates adorning the walls, pillars, warm colors, the bathrooms appropriately marked in Spanish. We grabbed an available booth and hunkered down.

They do indeed boast 100 tequilas anywhere from $4 to $85 (Patron Burdeos..) a pop. We weren't in a tequila shot mood (Tuesday night...5 PM!) but Mr. H ordered the Tajito (Don Julio Blanco, agave nectar, lime juice, mint leaves, club soda - 8.00.) It arrived quickly, along with our chips and salsa, which they offer for $1.99. The drink was awesome. What is basically a tequila mojito gets a little twist with agave nectar (instead of sugar) and lime juice (almost sure they used sweetened- a HUGE difference) and it was just perfect. It was balanced perfectly, with the lime at the center, backed up by mint, bubbly soda, a hint of sweetness and silver tequila. Mr. H thought it should be sweeter/ have more mint, but I prefer them a bit more simple. Probably the best mojito I've ever had, besides my own.

We finally ordered (the menu isn't 5 pages long, thankfully) and I ordered the Camarones (Grilled flour tortillas with grilled achiote shrimp, grilled pineapple, diced onion, cilantro - $9.99) and Mr. H the Chimichanga with Carnita (Crisp fried burrito filled with your choice of meat and rice then topped with salsa verde, queso blanco or ranchera sauce. Served with lettuce,
sour cream, pico de gallo and charro beans - $8.99) and then we dug into our chips and salsa, which were another pleasant surprise. The chips were warm, thin and crispy; not crunchy and a hard assault on your mouth. The salsa was a hint sweet, a hint spice and lots of tomato, and was a nice mix of sauce to chunky. Best chips and salsa I've had. The waitress offered us hot salsa, and said it was really hot. We weren't fazed, and she brought us a green sauce that we dug into with vigor. After about 10 seconds, it hit us. The waitress wasn't kidding. That stuff was seriously spicy. We didn't even touch it after that.

CamaronesI was pleased with the presentation and size of the entree. It didn't make me want to run away, and it looked very appetizing and like good authentic Mexican tacos. In each, there were 3 plump shrimp which were succulent and sweet. There was a good hint of cilantro and lime, and not much onion (which I personally like. I hate being overpowered with onion.) The shells were warm and not too dry, but chewy and soft. The only thing that threw me was the pineapple, It was a little too firm, and it didn't meld together anywhere. It wasnt unpleasant, but it was...misplaced. The rice was a bit sweet, and the charro beans are OFF THE HOOK. They are pinto beans with BACON. They are smokey, salty and awesome. Overall very very pleased with my dish.

Chimi with Carnita

I personally loved this. The pork was very, very savory and tender. The best pork I've had in a long time. The rice to meat ratio was like 4 - 10. I hate getting a ton of rice in my burritos. This had lots of juicy tender meat, and I loved it. Mr. H didn't care for it too much, and though it was too one note. I can see where he is coming from, as it could have used another element- maybe spicy or salty? - to balance it out.

To wrap up the night, we decided to try a shot from the tequla list. At the top of the list is the " Oro" section (the cheaper stuff - $4-$5) and there listed was a Sauza Giro and a Sauza Gold. I like Sauza, and asked the waitress what the difference was? She wasn't sure, but said she would ask the bartender. I prepared for a long wait, but she was back in 5 minutes explaning the Giro has cane sugar and the gold is just a gold tequila. We ordered one of each, and they also came within 5 minutes (our waitress was ON IT.) Served in skinny tall shot glasses, we imbibed these magical potions. Indeed, the Giro is more sweet and nice, and the Gold is more smoke and burn. Awesome end to the meal.

Greats:
-Chips and salsa
-Camarones
-Chimichanga
-Tajito
-Cheap tequila (but good tequila.)
-Our waitress

Not so greats
-That it displays itself out to passerby like a whore on Lake Street.

http://www.ciento100.com/

Sakana Sushi - Wayzata

I had a mad sushi craving, and decided to go to Sakana despite having a very medicore experience there on my birthday. Meh, it's close and was a nice day, and I was in lunchin' mode!

Sakana is in terribly yuppie downtown Wayzata. The decor is somewhat traditional for a Japanese place. No frills or glitter, just some cozy seating and a sushi bar. They offer traditional American-Japanese fare (gyoza, tempura, noodles, sashimi and sushi, fish e.t.c.) and while the sushi is priced normally, the entrees are quite expensive. Today, they had a lunch special for 2 sushi rolls for $10 ( a choice of the basics: Cali roll, Boston Roll, tuna, spicy salmon etc.) I was pretty hungry, so I ordered the Shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings) and one Spicy Yellowtail roll and one Eel and Cucumber roll.

Shumai
Shumai are usually the same everywhere I go. This one was not much different, except the shrimp didn't get as lost in the softness of the filling These are usually a little mushy, but not in a baby food way, more of a yummy little steamed dumpling-type of way. The sesame ponzu sauce was light, salty and sweet. Perfect.

Spicy Yellowtail Roll
Eel and Cucumber Roll
This has seriously been my best sushi experience to date. The rolls were not at all fishy. They were light, tasted fresh and were constructed excellently, with a swipe of spicy mayo on the plate. I struggled to eat a few of the larger yellowtail pieces, but I've developed a strategy, which is to bite one half and chew it in my mouth while still holding the other piece up to my mouth with the sticks. This way, I can chew and make a bit more room in my mouth to fit the rest of the roll in. It sounds like it might look gross, but it actually is pretty methodicall. Bite, chew chew, then chomp goes the rest of the roll. Any flimsily made roll would fall apart at this maneuver, but not these! The mayo was excellent...I can't place what they flavored it with, but it was smokey and spicy. The yellowtail rolls had just a hint of spice - so I doctored it up with lots of wasabi, which is ok by me!

What makes the ultimate sushi experience for me is the mouth-feel. Sometimes you get kinda fishy, sometimes you get kinda messy or too spicy. But SOMETIMES you get lush, velvet, fresh perfection, and this was it. I find myself attempting methods to get the best out of each roll, because it's just so good you want to do something to savor it and take it higher.

I'm glad Sakana is close. My next plan is to go there and try the mackarel and see how it differs from Wakame (which was much more underwhelming.)



Greats
-Everything

http://www.sakanamn.com/index.html

Chimborazo - NE Minneapolis

Going to Chimborazo has been a long time coming, and the little corner Ecuadorian restaurant has gotten a lot of stellar reviews. Mr. H and I decided to venture there for lunch on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

The interior is pretty bare bones, but we didn't expect a posh decor. We were there for the menu, which is ambitious and affordable. From ceviche (shrimp cocktail with red onion, tomato, lime, and tostados.) to Lomo saltado o pollo saltado (Stir-fried marinated chicken or beef with peppers, onions, tomato, and fried potatoes. Served with rice and avocado.) Since we were out for lunch items, we didn't get any entrees. They have pretty good lunch specials, so we centered on those and ordered.

I was seriously considering the ceviche (since I've made it but never had it out anywhere..) but Mr. H loves his empanandas, so we decided on 1 beef empanada (savory beef turnover- around $3) and 1 cheese empanada (cheese filled turnover dusted with sugar- same price.)

Beef empanada


Cheese empananda


Excuse my lack of food sophistication in this blog. I am not familiar with this cuisine, so I will describe it the best I can in general terms. The empanadas as a whole weren't remarkable. I am admittedly (possibly dumbly) baffled by the powdered sugar on the cheese one, and I found it to be bland. It's very simple, just a mild cheese inside a fried shell. The beef one was slightly more flavorful, but held the same simplicity. They were not remarkable.

Muchín de yuca (Three cassava croquettes filled with onion and cheese. Served with aji criollo for dipping-forgive me for forgetting the prices on stuff.)


These were lovely and soft. Again, not a huge flavor sensation, and I'm not familiar with yuca or cassava....but OH the aji criollo! Very reminiscent of Indian mint chutney- spicy and cilantro brightness. I could drink the stuff. It was well paired with these lush lovelies.

Llapingachos (Three cheese-filled potato pancakes served with egg and peanut sauce.)


Wipe out your pre-conceived notions of potato pancakes. These were thick little potato patties, served over fried egg and served with a peanut sauce. These were fluffy, but substantial. Very satisfactorily potato, but for some reason I can't remember I didn't care for the peanut sauce.

Sanduche de pollo (Roasted chicken with cheese and aji criollo on a bolillo roll.)


Leave it to me to order a sandwich, huh? This sandwich was above average, for several reasons. A) it was not overly stuffed with sloppy fillings. It very simply was just chopped chicken with some spices and a mild white cheese. B) it wasn't too dry, though there was not sauce on it. It's served with that awesome aji criollo, so it was very much all good. C) Somehow, they perfected toasty char on the inside of the sandwich bread like no other. Seriously, I have never had such an awesome textural contrast between the nice toasty crunch on the inside of the bread, to the soft outside and firm filling. Such a pleasing mouth feel, you want to keep eating for that reason alone. And the salad on the side was quite good. I was very impressed by their vinagrette specifically. It avoided being too tart, but stayed bright with a touch of lime. Perfect.

I definitely need to go back to Chimborazo to get an entrada experience!

Greats:
-Llapingachoes. Yummy potato heaven.
-The lime vinagrette
-AJI CRIOLLO SAUCE.
-Sanduche de pollo (successfully good natured.)
-Lots of great looking stuff for future visits!

Not so greats
-Beef empanada
-Cheese empanada
-Atmosphere lacks ambience.

http://www.chimborazorestaurant.com/

Buca Di Beppo- Minneapolis

Buca has been doling out $10 off coupons lately like hotcakes, so me and my loyal Mr. C went out to experience this old Italian staple.

As many know, Buca serves family style. Meaning that you get a lot of food. You can order 2 sizes: small or large. Small feeds 2-3 people, and large 4-6. Buca offers a lot of chef boyardee type entrees (ravioli definitely has it's place amongst italian food, but don't tell that to Michale Chiarello) that seem pretty americanized. But that definitely does not stop it from tasting good.

I was somewhat surprised by the somewhat chain-ey look to the menus. Buca in Mineapolis has a great hodge podged/old fashioned feel to it, with old pictures occupying every inch of the walls and even old kitschy stuff in the bathrooms. Upon entering, you will be met with a cardboard Danny Devito. It's a cross between being annoyingly and generically italian and completely comfortable all at once. But I adore that they purposely serve mismatching dishes. Feels like home (a generic one with photos of Sly Stallone and Devito on the wall in the entry.)

Tomato Caprese Salad (10.95 for a small- we were hungry and ate like half of it before taking a pic. Sorry.)
This was overall pretty tasty, but a bit too salty. I especially appreciated the huge basil leaves- beautiful and herbacious. The tomatoes were firm and sweet, the cheese mild and buttery. A good appetizer overall.

For our entree: The Spicy Chicken Rigatoni (Awaken your taste buds with a new favorite - tender chicken breast sautéed with garlic and red pepper, tossed with peas, a spicy rosa sauce and imported Italian rigatoni pasta. $18.95 for the small.) REALLY sorry about the shitty pictures. But, y'know.


I was extremely surprised by not only how well balanced and amazing this was, but by how PERFECTLY the pasta was cooked. I'm not kidding. I've eaten at Rinata, and this pasta was cooked better. Nice and toothsome, with a creamy, smokey and spicy sauce. The chicken was perfect throughout, never chewy, dry or too sparse.

Overall, I need to go to Buca again ASAP. With an appetizer, entree, and 2 glasses of wine, Mr. C and my bill was under $40 (after the coupon.) Success!!

Greats
-Mismatching dishes
-The spicy chicken rigatoni
-The rigatoni was perfect and awesome
-The wine list isn't amazing, but it's not totally generic either, and is affordable.

Not so greats
-Chainey feel to the menus
-Our waitress wasnt memorable at all, but meh
-Parking can really suck in the area
-Salt level in the caprese salad

http://www.bucadibeppo.com/default.aspx

Wakame Sushi and Asian Bistro - St. Louis Park

My sushi hankering came back today, so I found myself looking for the place with the best lunch special. happy hour and ended up at Wakame. They offer your standard sushi, nigiri, specialty rolls and standard japanese fare (bento boxes, teriyaki's) along with thai stir fry and noodle dishes.

The decor is nothing special, but it is a nice little space. I'm always glad to go somewhere that isn't overwhelmingly trendy, but still somewhat refined. I had the pleasure of sitting right next to (what I assumed to be) a Russian party of seven people. They were enjoying themselves and it was ear-pleasing to listen to them.

Wakame actually has great happy hour choices, with reduced prices on appetizers (i opted for the steamed dumplings = $4.25 for happy hour), specialty rolls (i opted for the Hot Spicy Girl Roll = $8.95) and cheap nigiri (i opted for my beloved Unagi at $2.25 and Mackarel - yes MACKAREL, at 1.50. You get one piece each.)

Steamed Dumplings (my phone will only take good pictures when it's daytime and I am by a direct source of light!)


These were actually quite good. The dipping sauce was the best dumpling sauce I've had to date..it is not overly salty, and not too bland. It also has a little kick of spice to it thanks to a light hand of chiles, and green scallions. Overall, very good.

Hot and Spicy Girl Roll (spicy tuna, spicy yellowtail, and crunchy bits, topped with spicy salmon & crunchy bits, drizzled with spicy mayo sauce) and my Unagi and Mackarel nigiri.

I started with the Mackarel. I've been quite curious about it since hearing many unfavorable things about the flavor. Indeed, it is quite fishy. It did not, however, have the pungency I was anticipating. I probably won't eat it again, but it wasn't terrible. The texture is fine, maybe a bit more firm than yellowtail, but not quite salmon. The unagi was not the best I've had. Unagi can taste either too fishy or too smokey, and this was on the fishy side. I've oinly ever had mild, sweet, fresh tasting unagi at like 2 other places. Maybe it's me??

The roll was quite good. The big pieces you see in the pic are actually cut in half, which I was grateful for. Quite often, specialty roll pieces are too big. I want a good bite, and while these were definitely substantial. they were not difficult to eat. The fish was nice, though I struggled to find any yellowtail. I think I just may be a sushi purist (what??) Anytime there are 2 or more fish mixed together, it gets fuzzy for me. I can't distinctly taste any one thing. It's still delicious, but becomes more complex. The tempura crunch is always appreciated and toasty, especially against the softness of the roll. It was all supple, no firm. It was quite spicy. I am usually pretty surprised that spicy rolls actually ARE spicy. I can tolerate a moderate-high level of spice, and this roll satisfied that well.

Greats
-Cozy, unassuming atmosphere
-Great prices (i got a ton of sushi and appetizer for under $20)
-Dumplings were tasty
-The Hot and Spicy Girl Roll
-Listening to Russian..or Polish maybe?

Not so greats
-Unagi nigiri
-Mackarel
-Not so great on happy hour drinks..but who can blame them, as they are located in a well populated shopping area.
-That's it.

http://wakamebistro.com/default.aspx

Houlihans - Chanhassen

**NOTE: I edited this because I found a bunch more pics of stuff I've eaten at Houlihans.**

On what must have been like my 4th trip to Houlihan's for small plates, I've finally tried almost everything they have. Here is my final blog and summary of the new menu items.

Houlihans has 4 sliders to choose from (shrimp po' boy, pulled pork, burger and a pot roast slider) for $5 apiece, or you can get 3 for $9.50...a small fifty cent savings. Pictured here are the pot roast slider, the shrimp po' boy and the pulled pork. My vote goes for the pot roast. When is pot roast not good?

The Shrimp Po 'Boy was my 2nd. The shrimp flavor came through nicely, without having that overwhelming "fried" taste.

The Pulled Pork had some fried onions on it, and was just ok. It was overall bland and needed more oomph. The buns were nice and shiny, and our server could not tell us what they were except that "they make them there".....
The spicy chicken and avocado eggrolls ($5) were my least favorite. They were distinctly spiced with cumin, and not much else. Not very spicy or flavorful overall.


The Blueberry Mojito = awesome. It has basil and mint, with blueberry syrup. My red flags cautioned me against sweet, but this is not overpoweringly so at all. Pretty good balance of sweet and herbaliciousness!

Fortunately, Houlihans offers 5 varieties of fries. We opted for the Disco Fries (Canadian 'poutine' (poot-sin) style with melty mozzarella, slow cooked pot roast and gravy. $4) and they were heavenly. I somehow don't have a pic, but they were the perfect portion, perfect amount of cheese and gravy, and small bits of pot roast. I'm kinda glad there weren't more because I would have totally gorged myself on them otherwise.

Other things I've had:Thai Noodle Bowl - (ginger-peanut noodles (chilled), cilantro, basil,
mint, napa cabbage, sweet & sour carrots. $5)

-This was quite plain. It comes cold, and it's ok, but I could make better at home honestly.


Grilled Naked Chinese Dumpling Kabobs - (ginger lemongrass
pork bites with peanut sauce. $5)

-Ok, I know we're all adults and can read, but the title is somewhat misleading. Is it a kabob? A dumpling??? Turns out it's a kabob. 5 skewers of pork with a little asian flavor to them. They come with 3 dipping sauces - a wasabi mayo, a spicy kind of soy sauce, and a sweet and sour dip.



Overall, I would go to Houlihans for social outings, but never specifically for the food, though I do like their sandwiches!