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