Five Must-Visit Restaurants

We've been asked for our 'list' so often, we thought it'd be a good idea to start publishing our picks on CHONS CaFe. Our top five were posted last month (see Blog Archive in the right-hand column).

Here's a list of the five restaurants that we believe put Minneapolis on the culinary 'map'. All of these are inspired, chef driven, foodie-worthy eateries that can hold their own along side any restaurant on the planet.

If for no other reason than to say you've been there, these need to be on your bucket list.

Five Must-Visit Restaurants

Heartland (Meers Park)
A new incarnation of the restaurant near Macalester College, the ‘new’ Heartland is in a cavernous old warehouse, not accidentally across from St. Paul’s farmers market. Chef Lenny Russo has evolved from his start at the MN Horse and Hunt Club (which maybe explains things like Boar everything and other ‘wild’ offerings) to a true ‘local-vore’ master.

We found the recycled industrial motif to be a bit cold – but ‘eco-chic’ is in, right? Chef was very visible, involved, and approachable the night we visited. The menu was fantastically ambitious, but we found that, while many items sounded exotic (Mangalitsa Ribs or Duck Prosciutto), some of the items were pretty ordinary once they showed up.

The highlights: A phenomenal cheese plate and, especially, the home-made vermouth the mixologist used for our martinis (worth the trip alone).

Meritage (Downtown St Paul)
St. Paul’s best restaurant, by far. Although it’s pretty traditional French Brasserie stuff (not my favorite), the execution makes it happen. – And, now that they have a nice big new bar, we don’t have to sit at those little marble tables!

To be honest, we had a pretty bad experience with the service on about our fifth visit. (We accidentally went out on Valentine’s Day, which didn’t help.) The next day we got a personal e-mail from Chef Kline, who made good by personally cooking for us the next week “sans menu” – our own personal chef for a night – he even picked up the tab.

I also like the pedestrian feel of that part of St. Paul. Make the St. Paul Hotel your home base for the week-end and you’re within blocks of the Ordway and at least a dozen great restaurants, bars and other music/theater venues.

Le Belle Vie (Loring Park)
Here, more than any of our other 4 picks, it’s all about the food. ’09 James Beard winner Tim McKee’s Mediterranean creations are phenomenally well thought out, meticulously presented and breathtakingly great tasting! This is the one place I would definitely spring for the chef’s tasting menu.

We actually like the bar area better than the dining room, which seems pretty formal, stuffy and full of ‘old’ people. (It really requires the use of your best ‘inside voice’.) The bar area, on the other hand, has a warm Ralph Lauren/club feel - with some nice sitting areas and a big fireplace. It’s an expensive place to eat, but the two of you can do just fine for under $125 by working your way through the small plates, splitting an entrée and enjoying the very nice wine-by-the-glass list.

Alma (U of M area)
Probably on more “best” lists that any other local restaurant; the most telling is chef/owner Alex Roberts 2010 James Beard Award. Alex is a true Minneapolitan – but with a genuine New York pedigree.

The menu rotates often, so it is limited. (Actually, it’s often hard to find things that appeal to both of us.) The décor is sparse but not cold. There’s a perfect spot ‘upstairs’ for a group of 8-12 people.

Vincent (Downtown Mpls)
There actually is a ‘Vincent’ in the kitchen – and he’s a for-real French guy. From France. Go figure! (He followed his wife here when she went to work for NWA.) The food is definitely French, but not the pretentious kind. It’s of the very solid/savory variety, like a burger, steak, scallops - even a Hebrew National at the bar – and all definitely ‘award winning’.

The best place to go before or after Orchestra Hall: Before - for the very-reasonably-priced happy hour – the best steak tartar anywhere (capers and worcestershire) or the burger stuffed with short ribs and smoked gouda. Or, after - to see who comes in after the show and to enjoy some of the best food in Minneapolis.