It's my annual August shopping trip with friends to MSP---so my annual question-----newest, favoritest (is that a word???) restaurant recommendations. Thanks again!

Might want to check chowhound.com. It's a great foodie hangout.

There are a few new good places. Most of these are a little expensive but you don't say what you budget is...

I liked Babalu (only been once, but it was great):

http://www.babalu.us/

I also like JP American Bistro (also been once, it was great):

http://www.twincitiesdiningguide.com...inneapolis.htm


I also like Solera, the new tapas restaurant. Excellent food, but 2 negative observations...pitcher of sangria for $34 way too expensive to be filled with ice but it was good sangria..just way too expensive to get so little of it. Also, we simply ordered tapas one or two at a time instead of dinner, and they were very good, but some of them would have been much better paired with other tapas, the waiter should help with that, but did not. For example a wonderful goat cheese tapas would have been wonderful if paired with bread or even the spanish peppers that were on special (also wonderful, but needed to be paired with something)...kind of like getting a wonderful serving of brie all by itself.

Tried Mojitos in St. Louis Park, didn't like it as well as Babalu (I think it is the same owners and they are similar restaurants).

Some of my old favorites if you have missed them are...Lucia's (absolute favorite!)

http://www.lucias.com/

Goodfellows:

http://www.goodfellowsrestaurant.com/index.asp

For a more inexpensive casual meal, I would eat at the small locally owned chain called D'Amico & Sons (not to be confused with D'Amico Cucina, its excellent, expensive sister restaurant). There are many locations of D'Amico & Sons.

http://www.damicoandsons.com/

I also like First Course on 56th & Chicago, a little neighborhood place with an innovative menu and reasonably priced. Excellent fish and salads.

Fhima's in downtown St. Paul is great, expensive fine dining.

For very elegant dining, The 510 restaurant is wonderful, right accross the street from the Walker if you are doing any art galleries while in town. Another great restaurant near the Walker is Auriga.

On 50th & France is Arezzo, a wonderful Italian place plus the shopping in the neighborhood is wonderful. This place is absolutely charming inside and has great food.

If you decide to take a break from shopping, walk around Lake Calhoun and eat outside on the patio at Dixie's Calhoun overlooking the lake. Their coconut shrimp is the best, and they have a banana cream pie that is unbelievable.

I could go on and on, but that is a quick response...do you have any questions? Enjoy!

Oh, I forgot, I just ate at Hell's Kitchen in DT Mpls last weekend for the first time, it was great! We ate breakfast there, it is funky with a very unusual menu. I had a crab cake with poached egg, and my husband had Walleye hash that was great (nothing like what you think of when you think of hash!). This was also not cheap, but very good food. Another cool place for breakfast but is very cheap is Al's Breakfast near the UofM. I think there are only 12 seats in the place, be prepared to wait. I also like Victor's 1959 Cafe for Cuban breakfast...

Just ate at Vincent's a couple of weeks ago. Great French food and wine list. Elegant, sophisticated, but definitely not stuffy. Nice area to stroll around after dinner too (just south of downtown area). So, if you are doing any shopping downtown, I'd suggest at least stopping in for a glass of wine. If I lived in Mpls, I'd definitely make this a girls night out place!

Thx to all------how am I gonna choose?? I'm pasteing this thread in my Mnpls folder for future trips! Arezzo sounds like a cool place----and I love the Ampersand shop, so perhaps this trip will be sponsored by the letter "A". I was laughing about the tapas pairings-----it reminded me of the time I was at a Spanish restaurant in Chicago. I ordered about 3-4 tapas, (one of them being what I thought sounded like an interesting olive dish). Well......the interesting olive dish turned out to be a great big bowl filled to the rim with......you guessed it...... olives!!! Granted, there was a lovely variety of olives, and I like olives, but I generally don't eat an entire bowl of them!! C'est la vie!! Thanks again for the tips!!

Colette-

I really liked Solera also- reservations are recommended though. I went in early May and it wasn't a problem but when I tried to get in a couple of weeks ago, they were booked.

I disagree with Loangalsal- I wasn't impressed by Babalu- thought it was overpriced although the bar is fun with the live music. I did enjoy my appetizer there (a spicy seafood cocktail) but everything else was just ok. It wasn't that the food was bad, just thought everything was priced about $5 to $10 more than it should have been. But I do agree- skip Mojito.

If you mean the Ampersand at 50th and France, have you tried Beaujo's wine bar? It is further north on France past Chicos' and R.F. Moeller. It has a nice selection of wines to taste as well as a light menu of various sandwiches, cheese plates, pates, etc. Would be fun for lunch or light dinner.

Also near 50th and France, is Broder's Southside Pasta bar. Casual place with great, fresh pasta. It is further east on 50th at the corner of 50th and Penn Avenue.

Other suggestions- I second Vincent's. Their escargot and beet salad are my favorites. A relatively new place worth checking out is Cafe Lurcat in Loring Park. I love their combination raw plate to start.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/456/3457731.html

Have a great visit!
JaneS

Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine has restaurant reviews in each issue, too. Might want to check that out!