Punch Pizza - Saint Paul

If I ask my kids where they want to go to dinner their answer nine times out of ten is Punch. If you are looking for the best Neapolitan style pizza in the the Twin Cities then Punch is where you want to go. They take their pizza very serious here. From the 800 degree wood fired oven to the authentic dough and ingredients Punch will make you feel like you are in Naples Italy. You can choose your own toppings or pick from one of their 18 classic pizzas. If you're extra hungry try the excellent artichoke dip or fresh salad. You can get their pizza to take out, but I think it is so much better when it comes right out of the oven. They offer several interesting affordable wines by the glass, carafe and bottle. Punch is family friendly, but I've seen it get very busy. If you are in a hurry try the restaurant on Grand Avenue. You give up the table service, but you get your food much quicker. At the moment there are six Punch locations. Highland Park, Eden Prairie, Lake Calhoun, Northeast, Wayzata and Grand Avenue. A seventh punch location is opening on the University of Minnesota campus at Stadium Village. I can't think of a better place to start the evening if you are holding Minnesota Gophers Hockey tickets.

Chirs & Rob's Chicago's Taste Authority - Saint Paul

I've driven past Chris & Rob's Chicago's Taste Authority on West 7th Street in Saint Paul numerous times and finally stopped to check it out. They are located in an old dining car previously occupied by Villa Pizza. It was nice to see they cleaned it up quite a bit. The added garage door was a nice touch. Anyone looking for a quick Chicago street-food-vendor fix this is your spot. The Chicago dog, made with Vienna Beef of course, will take you back to Wrigley Field with your first bite.













I can't claim to be an expert, but this was maybe the best hot Italian beef I've had anywhere. A gigantic portion of meat and pretty spicy. If you have Minnesota Wild tickets I would definitely recommend taking a pit spot here before the game. Chris & Robs Chicago's Taste Authority in St. Paul is open Monday - Saturday 11am - 9pm and Sunday 12 - 7pm. They are located at 603 West 7th Street in Saint Paul not far from Xcel Energy Center.

Meritage - Saint Paul Minnesota

Before attending a recent performance at the Ordway Theatre in Saint Paul, we had a fabulous meal at Meritage. Meritage is French stlye bistro located in the historic Hamm building just blocks from the Ordway Theatre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Xcel Energy Center and the Fitzgerald Theatre. It occupies the same space as the now closed A Rebours. The new restaurant and menu are very similar to A Rebours. The weather was perfect for enjoying dinner on the sidewalk patio. To drink we started with decided to start off with a glass of Rose Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine. Their dinner menu is split up into "Amusements", "Soups & Salads", "Introductions", "Main Characters" and "Plat Du Jour". The "Amusements" are made up of $3 two-bite appetisers. We tried the "Tiny Tuna TarTar Taco" and the "Braised Beef Strudel", which consisted of braised beef and gravy twisted inside of puff pastry. Both were exceptional and the Cava complimented them nicely. We then moved onto the "Classic Pork Rillette with Fig Puree". The rillette, which is basically a pate made from slow cooked pork, was served in a small mason jar with a layer of fig jam on top, all on a plate with grilled bread, dill pickles and brown mustard. This substantial starter would make a perfect light lunch or would be great on a picnic. From there we moved onto some Alaskan Halibut and Roasted Rack of Iowa Lamb. Both dishes were great, but the Halibut was my favorite. It was served with a sweet pea puree, glazed fingerling potatoes, cippolini onions and a white truffle emulsion. This was a perfect summertime dish loaded with tons of complex flavors. The white truffle and sweet pea worked great together. We split an order of the Pomme Frittes with Bearnaise sauce on the side. The Pomme Frittes were excellent. We brought our own bottle of Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Nior. The wine was awesome and went nicely with both the fish and the pork. For desert we went with the Vanilla Bean Pot du Creme and Chocolate cake. The Pot du Creme was a vanilla cream custard with whipped cream and served with an almond cookie. Our waitress suggested pairing it with a white Pineau des Charentes. Overall, it was a great meal. It was nice to see that Meritage has picked up where A Rebours left off.

Xcel Energy Center - Saint Paul, Minnesota

There may not be a hotter spot in the Twin Cities right now than Xcel Energy Center. Anyone with Minnesota Wild Hockey Playoff tickets knows this to be true. I was lucky enough to score a couple tickets to last Friday's Minnesota Wild Playoff game. As long as I was at the game I figured I might as well check out some of the food offerings. I was actually a little disappointed with how limited the options were if you didn't want a hot dog, something deep fried or drowning in fake cheese. I was excited to see they did offer Davanni's Pizza. Having grown up in the Twin Cities I've been a huge fan of Davanni's since they started out back in the '80's. Unfortunately, the hunk of overcooked dried out cardboard I was served at the Minnesota Wild game resembled no Davanni's pizza I've ever had. One thing Xcel Energy center does offer is a great beer selection, both domestic and import. Luckily my ice cold Summit Beer, a Saint Paul classic, didn't disappoint. Paired with an exciting Wild hockey game win, it more than made up for my terrible pizza experience.

El Patio, St. Paul

El Patio Mexican Grill is conveniently located on St. Paul’s West Seventh Street, giving easy access to pre-Wild margaritas. The carnitas are what is to try here, but vegetarians also have options as there is a separate menu of meatless delights (the complimentary soup is not vegetarian so watch for that). The spot isn’t called El Patio for nothing, in the summer there is great space for outdoors dining although it’s tough to think about in the middle of January.

The margaritas are expensive but tasty. The better drink deal here is the 40 ounce draft beers for only six to seven bucks, and that includes Heineken! If you’re feeling Mexican on a Minnesota Wild game night, or any night, El Patio is a good space. If you don’t sit in the dining room, get up and try to check out the mural that is strewn across one of its walls at some point.

La Grolla - Saint Paul, MN

This past Saturday was our first outdoor eating experience of the season. One of my favorite Saint Paul outdoor spots is La Grolla on Selby Avenue. La Grolla was opened in the summer of 2002 by Chef Antonio Tettamanzi. His vision of an inviting, upscale restaurant where patrons felt embraced by the Italian cuisine, surroundings, and staff has led to La Grolla's success. La Grolla has everything you're looking for in an upscale neighborhood Italian restaurant. For those who like to bring their own wine when they dine out, La Grolla is BYOB friendly and charges a $15 corkage. We brought a bottle of 2001 Azienda Agricola Montevetrano which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Aglianico. The wine was excellent and more characteristic of a Bordeaux than an Italian. Everytime I go to La Grolla I have to start out with the Cepansante which is Mexican diver scallops wrapped in angel hair pasta, lightly deep fried served with lobster sauce and basil oil. We also shared one of the appetizer specials, duck pot stickers, which we've had before and were great. For Dinner we shared cheese tortellini with prosciutto and peas in a cream sauce and crouton encrusted baked halibut with fresh vegetables. We finished up with some delicious tiramisu and cheese cake. La Grolla is located at 425 Selby Avenue in Saint Paul. Reservations are recommended.

Casper & Runyon's Nook - Saint Paul, MN

If you are looking for a burger experience Casper & Runyon's Nook in Saint Paul, Minnesota is the place. In my opinion, The Nook has the best burger in the Twin Cities. My personal favorite is the Lodge Burger which is a super thick burger between a couple slices of bacon, a thick slab of smoked cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and some chipotle mayo. I also recommend trying the dry-spicy Wild Wings. This is a combo I would trade for dinner at Manny's or Ruth's Chris any day. This small tavern is located at 429 Hamline Avenue near the corner Hamline and Randolph right across the street from Cretin Derham Hall. As the Nook is pretty small be prepared to grab a beer at the bar and wait for a table. While you're waiting, take a minute to check out all the photos and memorabilia of Cretin stars Joe Mauer, Paul Molitor, Matt Birk and many others. There's a small game room in back that comes in handy if you bring the kids. If you're looking for great food and laid-back casual atmosphere The Nook in St Paul is the place.

Xcel Energy Center Club Level Pizza

I went to the Minnesota Wild hockey game on December 23rd. versus the Detroit Red Wings. Other than being treated to a superb hockey game, I got to enjoy one of the best pieces of pizza that I have ever had. I bought a couple of club level seats from Ticket King a few days prior to the game. The tickets were delivered to me via Fed Ex the next day. The representative at Ticket King explained to me that one of the best benefits of sitting in the club level at the Xcel Energy Center is the added amenities, such as the food options, that exist in that level. I was initially skeptical. How much nicer could the amenities be? How much better could the food be? Is it possible to spruce of your average large arena menu? By the end of the first period, I was a believer! The food highlight of the night was the piece of pizza. It was as good of a piece of pizza as you can find. I ordered a Piece of cheese pizza and was surprised to see that it was cooked in a wood oven and was topped with tons of fresh ingredients. Normally at an arena, when you order a piece of pizza, it’s either reheated or simply stale with virtually no flavor. I left the game thinking that I would buy a Minnesota Wild ticket just to get in to buy a piece of pizza. It proved to me that sporting events and good food are not mutually exclusive!

I found a cool blog if you want the latest on the ticket scene in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Twin Cities Tickets

After the Vikings game Sunday we picked up some Thai food from Pad Thai Restaurant on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul. It is my five year old daughter's favorite restaurant and my favorite for Thai food in Saint Paul. I went with the Gang Masamanh Curry with chicken and fried tofu. It is a red coconut curry with potatoes. We also had cream cheese puffs, which are some of the best anywhere, and deep fried egg rolls. Usually we dine in. The restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere and it's a great spot to bring the kids. I think it's pretty affordable, dishes ranging from $11 - $14. They have a good list of wines that nicely compliment the spicy food.