What are our tastemakers’ favorite local tastes? From thick slices of cake on Snelling Avenue to unctuous rice bowls on Lyndale, read what dishes and restaurants the Minnesota Daily arts writers are craving.
Andrea Pizza: They really do have some of the biggest slices in town. Thin and floppy crust for a modest price beats the dining hall’s thick and stiff crust almost every day. Want to try mac and cheese pizza, or any other style of pizza for that matter? Chances are Andrea carries it, and it’s hot and fresh. – Leo Witzke
Black Coffee and Waffle Bar: Waffles from this Como Avenue restaurant are more than Instagrammable — they are also delicious. With a location just outside of Dinkytown, Black Coffee and Waffle Bar covers all of your breakfast needs. Try apple strudel for your sweet tooth, or get bold with ham and swiss. It’s also a great place to sip a latte and enjoy the plant-filled, cozy environment while doing homework or reading. Whether you’re there for a waffle date or for a solo study session, everyone needs to experience this Twin Cities staple. – Sarah Horner
Yum! Kitchen and Bakery’s Patticake: There’s a reason Patti Soskin’s Patticake has developed a cult following among bakery lovers in the Twin Cities. That reason is: luscious pillows of cream cheese frosting in between pure chocolate-y goodness in the form of spongy cake layers. It’s like eating an Oreo reincarnated as a cake. You can buy the whole cake for $45 or by the slice for $6.25 at Yum! at the corner of Snelling and Selby in St. Paul, just a ten minute drive from campus. – Nina Raemont
Spoon and Stable: A little on the pricier side, this hip spot is perfect for dates or Sunday brunches. The restaurant offers menus for brunch and dinner, with many items being French. Their pastries are the most popular menu items, and for those who love croissants, theirs are definitely worth a try! For $4.25 you can get a medium-sized croissant that comes toasted, so there’s a subtle crunch from the outside. Equally as good are the French fries, which are dusted with béarnaise powder for a nice French twist. – Panache Matemba
Hazel’s Northeast: If you’re looking for an amazing selection of breakfast foods in the Twin Cities, your search will end at Hazel’s. They’re renowned for their weekend brunch selection but offer delicious lunch and dinner options as well. Stop at the corner of Johnson Street NE and 29th Avenue (close to the Quarry and Como) for a meat waffle, drunken banana French toast or any classic breakfast for that matter. My personal favorite is Jean’s mean fried egg sandwich, a toasted sourdough sammie with bleu cheese, bacon, eggs and thyme. Every time I stop in, their meals murder my senses with delight. – Bel Moran
Mango Hawaii bowl at JJ’s Poke: If you enjoy a fresh poke bowl, make sure you stop by Dinkytown’s JJ’s Poke and try out their signature bowl, the Mango Hawaii. I personally have never found an option that tops the sweet blend in the Mango Hawaii bowl. The poke bowl contains salmon, a mango mix with Hawaiian classic sauce, topped with mango sauce, cucumber, avocado, edamame, seaweed salad, crab salad and masago. With all of the ingredients mixing together into a refreshing blend, the Mango Hawaii bowl is the perfect poke bowl for your next meal. – Harry Madden
World Street Kitchen’s Yum Yum Rice Bowl: Sticky rice, cilantro, green onions, deep-fried tofu, over-easy egg, “secret sauce.” Just thinking about World Street Kitchen’s blissfully simple creation has my mouth watering. Since getting their tofu yum yum rice bowl as a naive highschool student, thinking that this would just be some other stir-fry, this dish has been a weekly addition to my eating schedule. Located off of Lyndale Avenue in Uptown, Minneapolis, heading to World Street Kitchen makes a great excuse to explore the city while trying an unforgettable meal. – Carly Quast
