IronGoodEats

This unassuming Indian spot lies right in the heart of downtown. The elegant dining room portrays a quality that the price tag does not reflect. Hungry, with a good bit of time, not a lot in the budget, and a taste for quality, I equip myself with a plate an plenty of small dishes for the variety of dips and sauces available at the lunch buffet. All of the expected dishes are present, from the ruby red tandoori chicken, to the blistered and freshly baked naan, to the fried but not greasy samosas. The dishes were both flavorful authentic.I definitely came back for more, more than once. Both vegetarians and carnivores will find plenty from which to choose. The native restaurateurs kept my glass full and the buffet stocked. The dinner menu boasts over 80 dishes, and the lunch buffet is a perfect way to get an all-you-can-eat sample menu.

Buffet and steakhouse rarely find themselves in the same sentence, let alone the same establishment. None the less, Fogo de Chao is exactly that. The flat fee of $25 for lunch and $35 for dinner gets you all the succulent meat, extensive salad bar, fried bananas, corn bread, and cheese puffs your stomach can handle. Gauchos bring swords of glimmering meat to your table, unsheath their knives, and serve you tongful after tongful of fillet mignon, sausages, lamb, chicken, sirloin, or any other of their 13 different cuts of meat. A red and green disc indicates your readiness to continue the feast, though the red side is an indicator that you are either resting or finished, it certainly does not stop the temptation of ‘just one more’ bite.

Despite the buffet nature of the restaurant, the quality does not suffer. Come here to indulge, gorge, and bring your gluttony. If you are not waddling out of the restaurant, you are not getting your money’s worth. Dont worry though, you can work it off tomorrow.

Order it, and you wont be disappointed. This small restaurant is only open for dinner, but serves full menu till midnight at least. Meals start with olives and house made roasted almonds. The menu is both varied and unique, peppered with smaller dishes, and many pasta dishes that can be ordered as a 1/2 serving, there is nothing that isnt worth a try. The lamb scottadito (Italian, meaning burnt fingers) is to die for Anything that has duck in it is a must-try. The steak is heavenly as it feels like you are eating seared ahi tuna, but as a cow instead of a fish. Fresh ingredients and little twists on common recipes leave little doubt why there is so much hype about this place. 112 is perfect for the after work scene and is definitely not to be missed.

Al’s defines hole in the wall. I passed this establishment numerous times before visiting, not even knowing it was there. The restaurant sits about 13 people total at a bar, with barely enough walking room behind you to hang your coat. The wait staff is quick and smart-mouthed. A bottomless cup of coffee is a must as they are only open for breakfast, starting bright and early. The lines go out the door as patrons are willing to brave the cold for a buckwheat pancake, seasonal omelette, or perfectly crispy hash browns.

Prices are low, and the down-to-home ambiance cannot be beat. The place can get a little loud, but you cant help cracking a smile as your order of a blueberry pancake and a sunny-side-up egg is translated into diner-speak as the chefs, whose stove top defines multitasking, replies confirmation of your order in equally cryptic diner jargon. A Minneapolis exclusive not to be missed.

Talk to any Muslim or person of Middle Eastern decent around the twin cities, and they know of Holy Land. This establishment is everything you would think of with regards to an ethnic grocery/restaurant. The website has coupons that reduce the substantial lunch buffet’s price to a pittance of about $6, including drink.

What is included on this Middle Eastern Menu is indicative of the American pallet. Romain lettuce salad with tomatoes and cucumber can be topped with baba ganoush (not very garlic-y or salty) or whipped cucumber sauce. Smooth feta cheese, olives and a plethora of pita are available, and this is only the “salad” bar. The hot bar contained the standard slew of falafel, rice, a variety of curries, chick pea-based dishes, gyro, BBQ chicken, and lamb.

Being a huge fan of middle eastern food, especially vegetables, I most definitely got my $6 worth. However, considering the variety and authenticity of their grocery store, I found the buffet to be a little Americanized. BBQ chicken and a “Greek” chicken curry reminded my very little of my Lebanese friend’s mother’s cooking. I felt a little wasteful as I had to leave much of my lamb dish on my plate, seeing as how it was mostly was bone, grissle, or fat.

If you are looking for the best an establishment has to offer, you most likely wont find it in their buffet. However, if you are looking for a sampling because like me, your hungry, cant decide, and dont have the wallet to buy the enormous sample platter (which is quite impressive), there is no better place. The grocery is about as comprehensive and genuine as it gets. That being said, if your just looking to eat out, the Midtown location’s food is exactly the same, so dont bother hiking all the way up to Central if the global market is closer to you.

Nestled on the edge on the Twin Cities U of M campus, Caspian Bistro is an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant and grocery store.

Upon entering, I couldn’t help but peruse the few isles for ingredients, spices, teas, delicacies and desserts from the Middle East. Decently priced, you can find feta, olives, fresh dates, cookies, fruits, and desserts indicative of the area. Reasonably priced, it is almost always worth it to pick up a little something to spice up your kitchen cabinet, though I wouldn’t advise bringing your entire grocery list.

The dining itself is quite nice. Both the ambiance and service are great, and the tables are adorned with sugar cubes instead of packets. The tea is not to be missed, nor is the bread with spices and olive oil, brought to the table with every meal. My advise is to order something authentic and/or something that you wouldnt make at home. For me, that was the lamb. Long strips were well seasoned, yet didnt undermine the delicate taste of the lamb. Both my and my partner’s dishes were served along with a mountain of jasmine rice. I’m a meat and veggies guy, so the rice went in the doggie bag.

Overall, a nice place, with a palatable price tag to boot. With free parking in the back, whether your a student or a neighborhood resident, this place is worth a visit.