Minneapolis Restaurants Reviews

Restaurant Max has impressive fare despite heady marketing

At Restaurant Max one evening, the waitress was describing the menu—New American cuisine...a mix of global influences—and I was... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: October 15, 2008

Forepaugh's gets tres sexy menu makeover

For years, Forepaugh's restaurant, located in a Victorian mansion near downtown St. Paul, felt like an elegant shut-in who was quite a gal in... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: October 08, 2008

With Honeycrisp's patent expiring, U of M looks for new apple

For two months every fall, David Bedford spends his days chewing things up and spitting them out. As the University of Minnesota's chief apple... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: October 01, 2008

Common Roots, Common Ground

The stripped-down space has exposed brick walls, concrete flooring, and burlap coffee sacks that double as decor. The counter staff's look is... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: September 24, 2008

Toast of the Town

The elevator opens onto the 27th floor of the Foshay Tower's new W Hotel, dumping us straight into a sendoff party at the Prohibition bar. The... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: September 17, 2008

Jax Cafe: A Nordeast institution

"I think you'll have a better shot on the other side," the manager coached, pointing across the stream and passing me a long-handled net. "They... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: September 10, 2008

Minneapolis and St. Paul's midnight snacks

The other night, well past midnight, I watched with some sadness as a grown man carried a frozen pizza home from the corner gas station. While I... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: September 03, 2008

Dining with RNC delegates

Welcome politicos, pollsters, and protesters. For the next few days, downtown St. Paul is going to be a madhouse, as tens of thousands start... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: August 27, 2008

Big E is Back

If you follow Concord Street south from downtown St. Paul on your way to Bourbon Street Steak House, the area starts to look so desolate that by... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: August 20, 2008

Liquor titan Phillips Distilling aims top shelf with organic vodka

If you recognize the name Phillips Distilling, it's probably because you've seen its dusty bottles of schnapps lining the lower shelves of local... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: August 13, 2008

Why the Twin Cities is the best place to eat ice cream in the universe

Sitting on a bench outside Pumphouse Creamery with a scoop of strawberry sorbet, I watched a class of fencing students spill out from the... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: August 06, 2008

Dancing Ganesha: Lost in Translation

Here's a typical scene from lunch at a local Indian restaurant: The masses are queued up behind a Herculean buffet of steaming curries, against a... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: July 30, 2008

Smalley's Jamaican Barbeque: Jerked around

I can't say I wasn't warned. When the waiter explained the sauces on the table at Smalley's Caribbean Barbeque, he held up the squeeze bottle... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: July 23, 2008

Grand Cafe gives new life to neighborhood eatery

At the Grand Cafe in south Minneapolis, a reminder of the space's previous occupants sits squarely in the center of the room, its broad, white... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: July 16, 2008

In the upper 'burbs, Lake House and Flame stand out

Ordinarily, I wouldn't drive nearly 40 miles for dinner. Particularly when gas prices are soaring, I don't think people who live in Minneapolis... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: July 09, 2008

High Cuisine

With just a few months of parka-free frolicking to be had in Minnesota, we take to doing everything al fresco while we can, including eating and... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: July 02, 2008

The Suburbs Step It Up

For the past few weeks, the "Modern Love" column in the New York Times has been running the winning stories from its college essay contest. After... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: June 25, 2008

Chef Shack brings curb appeal to summer eats

One Saturday last January in downtown St. Paul, music blared from a boxy, white trailer parked by the side of the road. A blond dancer, clad like... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: June 18, 2008

Obento-Ya: Everyday chic in Japanese dining

While working on an article about the branding genius of Ikea's immersive retail environments, a writer I know once set up shop in an office... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: June 11, 2008

Go Get Sauced

Not once but twice I tried to go to Sauced during its regular hours and found the restaurant closed. The first time, on a Sunday evening, the... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: June 04, 2008

Hmong market Is a Rare Food Adventure

INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE217 Como Ave., St. Paul651.487.3700Behind a tall fence on a busy St. Paul street sits a small parcel of land that feels... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: May 28, 2008

Indio: Beyond the Burrito

INDIO1221 W. Lake St., Minneapolis612.821.9451; www.restaurantindio.comappetizers $5-$14; entrées $16-$25During lunch one day at Indio,... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: May 21, 2008

Spasso: stay for the wine

SPASSO 17523 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka 952.224.9555; www.spassomn.comappetizers $5-$9; entrees $10-$28 Spasso's timing couldn't be better.... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: May 14, 2008

The best way to help animals may be to eat them

THE COMPASSIONATE CARNIVORE by Catherine Friend Da Capo Press, $24 RISING MOON FARM www.risingmoonfarm.com FARM IN THE MARKET Midtown Global... More>>

By Rachel Hutton

Published: May 07, 2008