Restaurants Posts

The [Food] Game is Fixed

Apr 02, 2011 11 Comments

You have one more week to enjoy Eat Downtown! The Greater Downtown Council-sponsored event, with 19 participating restaurants, is back this year.

The DNT describes the program here.

Kate and I at ate J J Astor — an amazing dinner, including blackberry salad, for me a pressed chicken, for her walleye with grapefruit and bleu cheese salad, for me a chocolate pudding for dessert, for her an orange olive oil cake. Amazing. Also of note: the happy-hour specials at the Astor are at least competitive with other local happy hours. We had never seen the bar added in the remodel before; it (and the whole space) is awesome.

Bellisio’s was awesome both for the company (M., S., and L.) as for the very filling mix of a caprese salad (the highlight of my meal), various pasta dishes, and tasty gelato.

Being a tourist in your own town is sometimes one of the best ways to rediscover your love for it. Try a local restaurant today. And note: some of the restaurants with more modest aims have a “two for twenty” menu in the evenings.


Restaurants

Pasta for Lovers at Chester Creek Cafe

Feb 10, 2011 No Comments


Music, Restaurants

Happy Tet!

Feb 05, 2011 1 Comment

A good time was had by all at Saigon Cafe for Vietnamese New Year!

The dinner was served at long tables (a break from the norm), creating a long space in the middle of the restaurant and creating the opportunity to meet new people. And people had come from as far away as Hibbing and Grand Rapids for the feast. Dinner consisted of a wonderful shrimp dish made with fruit, a mixed seafood dish, a beef in a curry sauce, and one of the staples of Vietnamese food, a seasoned meatball (often made of shrimp and pork). Two tasty soups and a salad and a fruit rounded out an excellent buffet-style dinner.

Youngsters played Vietnamese games in the back, and a dragon dance in that newly created space in the middle of the restaurant.

I can’t imagine more fun, and I have a newfound respect for what this small, locally owned business does for our community.

Saigon Cafe Vietnamese Restaurant
114 W. First St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-3987


Restaurants

Wild Rice Pizza in Duluth?

Jan 31, 2011 14 Comments

Anyone know of a restaurant that sells wild rice pizza?  Looking for something like the ones at  Sven & Ole’s pizza in Grand Marais. (Wild rice, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, olives, peppers onions).  Simple, yet different.


Restaurants ,

Giant Panda becoming China King Buffet

Jan 05, 2011 28 Comments

The Giant Panda restaurant at 215 N. Central Avenue in West Duluth has closed.

ChinaKingWestDuluth

No, Amsoil isn’t moving its corporate headquarters into the Spirit Valley Shopping Center. A woman unloading the truck said a new Chinese restaurant, under different ownership, is moving in. She said it will be called China King Buffet and be open in a few days.


Restaurants

The Bombay Sweets – First Fridays at Lake Avenue Café

Jan 05, 2011 5 Comments

The Bombay Sweets + Lion Or Gazelle + DJ Path Annu

This Friday, Lake Avenue Café plays host to Minneapolis band the Bombay Sweets as part of its First Fridays series.

Read More


Events, Music, Restaurants, Videos

Duluth Meal Deals and Happy Hours

Dec 25, 2010 15 Comments

I took a lot of heat from friends for always going to Green Mill for Happy Hour. $5 apps that make me think of college, you know.

But it made me think about meal deals around town for happy hour. What do you got?

1. Green Mill, $5 apps
2. Midi: Is this right? Buy one, get one entrees?
3. Blackwater: $5 pizzas? How big are these pizzas?
4. Thai Krathong: All you can eat Pad Thai Tuesday? Does it include beef/shrimp/chicken?
5. Sammy’s Woodland: All you can eat pizza buffet Tuesdays?

and

1. Lunch at Saigon Cafe, buffet for $5.99?

What else can you add to this list? I want to eat out in new and exciting places this week!


Recommendations, Restaurants

Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse Reviews

Dec 17, 2010 13 Comments

Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse opened in Duluth’s Burning Tree Plaza shopping mall on Dec. 15. (More info in a previous post “Duluth Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse,” including the menu.)

Has anybody been up there yet? I’m just trying to get a comparison between this new place and Hanabi. I’d love to hear a review.


Restaurants

Early Bird Music at Chester Creek Cafe with TJ Trio, December 18

Dec 14, 2010 No Comments

Get blown away by the sounds of TJ Trio, Terrol, Jane, and Kyle Keegan on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. Take advantage of $2 off all wine and beer from 5-7 including on tap favorites, Bells Two-Hearted and Surly Furious. Happy Hour appetizer specials all night in the Chester Creek Wine Bar.


Events, Music, Restaurants ,

Oberstar/Cravaack, Chapter 17

Dec 05, 2010 5 Comments

I still have one nagging question that came up during the campaign: “Can you get good Malaysian food anywhere near Duluth?”

Anyone have an answer?


Politics, Restaurants

JJ Astor Liked by MNMO blogger & goodie Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

Dec 02, 2010 4 Comments

Go Ryan!

Minnesota Monthly review of Duluth’s JJ Astor restaurant:
Room with a View


Restaurants

Kozy Fire: Let’s Do Something Together

Nov 16, 2010 26 Comments

Kozy Fire

Can we put a fundraiser together between now and Sunday? Here is what Chester Creek Cafe will do:

1.) Set up a bank account to receive donations to Kozy residents.

2.) Take the 7pm to 10pm shift for a multiple site benefit – we clean out the “library” room for concert-style seating and prepare a “Spaghetti feed” type meal to be sold for (say) $15 to $20 — all of which will go to the Kozy fund. Any donations of clothing or other stuff will be available for Kozy residents. Kozy residents will also get a free meal that night.

3.) We will give any participating musicians and performers (Fire spinners?) a $15 gift certificate and a free meal.

Can other restaurants take the later shifts – like we all move down to the Brewhouse or Burrito Union at 10pm and then finish up at Luce at midnight?

Those places would offer a similar deal? What do you all think?
Restaurants? Musicians?

Let me know if this is doable.


Music, News and Current Affairs, Restaurants , ,

Early Bird Music Special

Nov 10, 2010 No Comments


Art, Music, Restaurants

Coffee with a Lakeview

Nov 05, 2010 11 Comments

Lakeview Coffee House viewI have been thinking lately about how much I miss Lakeview Coffee House in Fitgers. It was an awesome spot to spend an hour on a cold, blustery day watching the lake with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It was pleasant and unrushed.

So, where is a good place to go now with a decent view of the lake where you can get a warm beverage and wile away a couple hours? I’ve tried Va Bene, but it’s a heckuvalot more expensive and they aren’t keen on you lingering. Dunn Bros. lost its lake view after the construction of Edgewater. Thoughts?


Recommendations, Restaurants

Duluth Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse

Nov 02, 2010 41 Comments

Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse
5115 Burning Tree Road, Duluth
218-727-3222

Another sushi joint will be opening in Duluth, but this one will be the city’s first hibachi restaurant. Work is underway at Burning Tree Plaza in preparation for Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse.

The Burning Tree Plaza mall, located at 5115 Burning Tree Road in Duluth’s Miller Hill area, is recognized for its anchor stores Best Buy and T.J. Maxx. Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse will be situated in store #309 of the mall, between Beauty Mart and Regency Beauty Institute, so, theoretically, it should be beautiful.

Owners are Sam Lin, Dan Xu and Lester Teseng.


Restaurants