Bike-ride Eateries: Three places worth some pedal-pushing.

With the warm weather, out come our bikes – which are primarily used as transportation to and from great places to eat. This spring we’ve landed at three that are definitely worth some pedal-pushing:

Tilia 43rd St. in Linden Hills
http://www.tiliampls.com/
Opened in March, Tilia (Latin for ‘linden) is a nice cross between neighborhood tap and funky-foodie place. They maintain a nice rotation of 21 interesting draught beers and have my personal favorite – a $3 PBR Tall-boy can. Great wine-list too – not too heavy on the California’s, which I think is a plus. Good clean menu items that are nicely conceived, executed and presented - but definitely not over the top. The crowd is cool and varied – young, old, and from goth, to aging punksters, to white-bread SoMpls-ites. The main guy, Steve, plays the laid back owner-schmoozer part to a tee. It’s always crowded, even on Mondays, and they don’t take ressies.

For your bike ride: Just up the hill from the Lake Harriet band shell and take either Queen or Linden Hills Blvd a block or two south.


Yum where Mtka Blvd splits off from Lake St. on the south edge of Tyrol Hills
http://www.yumkitchen.com/
If I didn’t know better, I’d say the old Lincoln Del was reincarnated a block away as a cafeteria – and I hate cafeterias, but this one is different. Open and airy with a clean floor-plan that includes a gleaming kitchen and central bakery setup – it just feels like quality. The food is not fancy and has a deli orientation. But - it is definitely not deep-fried or Sysco-inspired. It’s all house-from-scratch and authentic - and incredibly good. Crowd is upscale: mahjong ladies, neighborhood princesses and meet-dad-after-soccer families.

For your bike ride: Peel off from the Cedar Lake bike path onto Sunset Blvd and turn left on Glenhurst.


Sea Salt on the Grand Rounds at Minnehaha Falls
http://www.seasalteatery.com/
In the old park refectory building, Sea Salt is sort of fish shack meets the state fair. It has great outdoor seating and a ‘20s park-pavilion feel. Food offerings range from oysters on the half shell to deep fried fish’n chips-type choices – with tacos and red beans and rice in between. Good quality and FRESH (Coastal Seafood) – but no chefs here! The only real down-side: You need to wait in a (often long) line to place your order and then wait again for the food-runner to call your name. For sure, though - a really enjoyable place to soak in the afternoon sun and have a beer while watching the tourists give Hiawatha’s sculpture and the falls a look-see.

For your bike ride: Just follow the signs to the falls. I can’t even imagine driving to Sea Salt. It’s the perfect bike destination!

So, in the words of Queen: "Get on your bikes and ride..."