We have close friends getting married [older couple] and we're looking for suggestions for a good restaurant in the Minneapolis area [they live in Maplewood] to get a gift certificate. I know they like Thai food, and also Japanese, but we're open to any suggestions.

There is a recent thread here about downtown MPLS restaurants, in which I recommended D'Amico Cucina and Vincent--you can Google them both, they are both what you might call "fine dining". I also hope locals will chime in with more recent suggestions, perhaps closer to Maplewood. The Thai and Japanese places I know of probably don't offer gift certificates; that said, we adored Rainbow Chinese, and they may have gift certs. Good luck!

LoisL-
Also give thought to Manny's---it's downtown and a classic steak house. I realize it's not exactly Japanese or Thai, but the Silver Butter Knife Steak is fantastic.

Others have different views on Manny's but I've never had anything less than a great meal there and I've been there at least once a year since 1988.

Manny's Steakhouse. 1300 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403

112 Eatery....wonderful restaurant! Downtown Minneapolis in the warehouse district.

The Chambers is fabulous. Also 20/21 at The Walker Art Center. I also love 112 Eatery but I would do the Chambers -- it's unique.
http://www.chambers-minneapolis.com/ The Kitchen (The restaurant) is a Jean-Georges place.

Hi LoisL,

Because your friends live in Maplewood, I'm going to throw in some St. Paul and Stillwater suggestions since these are just as close, if not closer, than downtown Minneapolis.

In downtown St. Paul, there's a wonderful restaurant in the Saint Paul Hotel called the St. Paul Grill. The restaurant overlooks Rice Park and is across the park from the Ordway Theater and other historic buildings in that area.

Other "upscale" choices in downtown St. Paul are Kincaid's Fish, Chop and Steakhouse and Pazzaluna, an Italian restaurant that is only open for dinner.

On Grand Avenue in St. Paul, there's Saji-Ya (not my favorite, but you mentioned Japanese cuisine) and Pad Thai, to name a couple.

Then there's Stillwater, a quaint old river city not far from Maplewood that is especially big with antiquers, and is a lovely town. There are many choices there as well, but I'll mention the Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter (German cuisine); the restaurants in the Lowell Inn, such as the Matterhorn Room where they serve fondue in the evenings; or the Freight House, which is right on the St. Croix River with a big deck overlooking the water.

You can find all of these restaurants online if you'd like more information. I just thought I'd add some suggestions outside of downtown Minneapolis. Hopefully others will jump in with recommendations in these areas as well.

Azia is nice, high end asian-fusion
will have gift certs, 2550 Nicollet Ave, South Mpls @ 26th Street

For Japanese, Fuji-Ya, 600 West Lake Street, South Mpls @ Lyndale Avenue
will have gift certs

Japanese, Nami, 251 1st Avenue North, Downtown Mpls @ 4th Street (I think)
will have gift certs

Japanese, Sakura, 350 St Peter Street, Downtown St. Paul, near Roy Wilkins auditorium
will have gift certs.

All of these are high end,will offer gift certs. Azia is a bit more "hip," though is mixed, my parents enjoy it they are @ 60 years old. Fuji-Ya mixed age, more casual. Nami and Sakura are both higher end and quite nice, I try to book at Nami when I visit Mpls, but usually end up at Fuji-ya as it is closest to my parents home.

Hope this helps.

websites for the places I gave:

http://www.aziarestaurant.com/

http://www.namisushi.com/

http://www.sakurastpaul.com/

http://www.fujiyasushi.com/

I concur that Saji-Ya is not recommended---more of Bennihana (sp?) style food, though not a chain.

thanks to all who responded. I had checked once and didn't see anything. We went away for Christmas, and came back to all these wonderful suggestions!