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Restaurants by neighborhood

Dinkytown

Al's Breakfast: 413 14th Avenue, in Dinkytown, 612-331-9911. Hours 6 a.m.-1:00 p.m., M-Saturday, 9-1 p.m. on Sunday. The motto of this tiny diner is "So many friends. So few seats," but it's worth the wait for the pancakes, a decent cheap cup of coffee and the Al's Experience. (cheap)

Annie's Parlour: 315 14th Avenue in Dinkytown, 612-379-0744. An old-fashioned soda fountain, with burgers, really BIG salads and milkshakes so formidable, they are best split with another person. They also have a nice home-made chicken soup and the best grilled cheese sandwhiches on campus. Outdoor balcony dining when the weather is nice. (medium-priced)

Bangkok: Thai cuisine with a lunch buffet starting at $6.00, starring cream cheese wontons and all you can eat pad Thai noodles. 425 13th Avenue in Dinkytown. (medium-priced).

Big Ten Sub Station: hot subs and burgers, with daily combo specials (cheap).

Bobaboca Tea & Cafe: 1501 University Avenue, SE. 612-623-9380.

Bon Apetit: Good basic lunch at this juice bar/ pool hall/ gyro stand. Menu is varied, cheap and the cooks are fast. They also serve beer and wine. Located at 421 14th Avenue Southeast. (cheap)

Brueggar's Bagel Bakery: Bruegger's Bagels are made fresh daily in each store. The local source for decent bagels in an absurd number of varieties. Corner of Oak Street and Washington Avenue in Stadium Village and 319 14th Avenue in Dinkytown. (cheap)

Burrito Loco Bar & Grill: 418 13th Avenue, SE., 612-746-5626

Camdi Chinese-Vietnamese Cuisine: 1325 SE. 4th Street, 612-331-4194. Vietnamese/Chinese cuisine with cheap lunch specials, that's quite popular with physicists. Apart from Vietnamese dishes like fresh rice noodle salad, "special rice" and pho (all wonderful choices), I also recommend their Thai Chicken Curry soup, fresh spring rolls, or the Lo Mein. Also check out the specials posted on construction paper on the walls. They are almost always good and sometimes, stunningly good, like the Hainanese Chicken. (cheap)

Cereal World & the Minnesota Popcorn Connection: 423 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-1985.

China Express: 409 14th Avenue SE., 612-379-6378. A fast cafeteria that avoids the steam-table trap. The cheap lunch specials are competent renderings of familiar Chinese-American fare. (cheap)

Chowgirls Killer Catering: 1316 SE. 4th Street, 612-203-0786

Connection: 423 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-1985

Dinkydome: The Dinkydome is on the corner of University and 15th. Originally built as a library for a Bible College, the Dinkydome is now a food court with a number of small restaurants and general seating.

Dinkytowner Cafe: 412 14th Avenue SE., 612-362-0437.

Duffy's Dinkytown Pizza: 1308 SE. 5th Street, 612-623-3833.

El Burrito Loco: As if a student at the Carlson School of Management had gone to Chipotle and copied everything from their service pattern, menu to the decor. Not quite as good as Chipotle, as they lack Chipotle's yummy corn salsa, but your burrito comes with free chips and salsa and the little diner space in the back of the Dinkydale is rarely crowded. 418 13th Avenue SE 612-746-5626 (cheap).

Espresso 22: pretty good soups, bread and coffee. (cheap)

Espresso Royale: 411 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-8127 Soups, sandwiches and pricey pastries. 411 14th Avenue in Dinkytown and 614 Washington Avenue in Stadium Village (medium-priced).

Falafel King: fast food Mid-Eastern style, with daily combo specials. In the Dinkydome (cheap).

Hong Kong Express: 1501 University Avenue SE., 612-623-9380. Fast food Cantonese style. Their lunch special--two entrees for five bucks--is just perfect to share (cheap).

Kafé 421: 421 14th Avenue SE., 612-623-4900

Little Taj Mahal, 1501 University Avenue, SE., 612-331-3389

Loring Pasta Bar: 327 14th Avenue, SE. 612-378-4849.

Mangia Mediterrenean Cuisine/Mangia Express: Woodfired pizzas, home-made pasta lunch specials and the only worthy Tiramisu on campus (medium-priced).

Marrakech Cafe Coffee Shop & Mediterranean Deli: 407 14th Avenue, SE., 612-208-0395

McDonald's: 407 15th Avenue SE., 612-331-6590

Mesa Pizza: 1323 SE. 4th Street, 612-436-3006

Newkirk's Kosher Deli: Excellent home-cooked food with the occasional dilettante touch. The only deli I've ever been to where the chef wears one of those puffy white hats. In the basement of the Hillel center on 16th and University Ave. (cheap).

Pizza Hut: Delivery to Radisson and Days Inn, 623-0775, located at 1301 University Avenue Southeast (medium-priced).

Shuang Cheng: 1320 SE. 4th Street, 612-378-0208. .

Taco Johns: Midwestern version of Taco Bell (cheap).

Thai Rocky Spring Restaurant: 25 13th Avenue, SE., 612-331-4206

The Kitty Kat Club: owned by the proprietor of the Loring Pasta Bar, this club attempts to replace the old Loring Cafe downtown which lost it's lease. The old Loring was a hotbed of bohemian disaffection mixed with yuppie upscale binge drinking. At the old Loring you could wander across the footbridge to the sculpture garden on a warm summer night while you sipped your wine. Location has not provided any such bonuses, but the interior of the Kitty Kat still has some fun nooks and crannies in which to plot your revolution or bitch about your boss. One thing is for sure, though, they really need to get some new chairs. Shabby chic is dead already! I don't want my butt to fall through to frame when I sit down. The food is hand-carried down the street from the Loring or from upstairs at Annie's parlor, so see those two reviews to get the idea. 313 14 Ave. S.E. (medium-pricey).

The Purple Onion:1301 University Avenue SE., 612-252-0217

The Steak Knife: 1327 SE. 4th Street, 612-378-4730.

Vescios Italian Restaurant: 406 14th Avenue SE., 612-378-1747.

Stadium Village

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill: 615 Washington Avenue SE

Arby's: Look for the big neon cowboy hat in Stadium Village on Washington Avenue across from the Days Inn. (cheap).

The Big Ten: A campus institution in Stadium Village that serves burgers, hot subs, chili and a good selection of tap beers. A half sub makes a great cheap, hot lunch and is vastly better tasting than most of the chain sub places. They even have a sub station if you don't have time to sit down. 606 Washington Avenue Southeast (across from the Radisson) (cheap to medium-priced).

Bona: Bona was voted best Vietnamese Restaurant by a local paper, no small feat considering there are almost as many Vietnamese Restaurants in the Twin Cities as there are lakes in the Boundary Waters. 815 Washington Avenue in Stadium Village. (medium-priced)

Brueggar's Bagel Bakery: Bruegger's Bagels are made fresh daily in each store. The local source for decent bagels in an absurd number of varieties. Corner of Oak Street and Washington Avenue in Stadium Village and 319 14th Avenue in Dinkytown. (cheap).

Burger King: 925 Washington Ave. SE.

Campus Club: Newly renovated down to the menu, this member's only club has some of the grandest views of the Mississippi river North of New Orleans. Also, in a historic, move for our puritanical campus, they also opened a bar. Located in the top floor of Coffman Union. (medium-pricey).

Campus Pizza and Pasta: No delivery but Campus Pizza does have homemade pizza and calzones. 818 Washington Avenue Southeast. (medium-priced).

Caspian Bistro and Deli: A bit of a hike from campus, but close to the Days Inn. Persian Bistro and market with some Americanized dishes for the less adventurous. 2418 University Avenue S. E. (medium-priced)

Chipotle: Specializing in hefty wraps with fresh ingredients. Very popular at lunch, be prepared to stand in line. Located at the corner of Washington Avenue and Oak Street in Stadium Village.(medium-priced, for fast food).

Coffman Student Union: After nearly three years of remodeling Coffman is open again to feed us. With a maze of cafeteria options, fast-food stands like Baja Tortilla Grill and Chic Filet, and a few hidden gems, like sushi from upscale Kikugawa; it also houses Starbucks, M Deli, Jamba Juice, and MN Marketplace (food court). It is good to return to the sunny art deco union. The big buiding on Washington Avenue that faces onto Northrup Mall (cheap).

D'amico and Sons: Cafeteria with the kind of food you'd expect at a sit down restaurant, D'amico has sit-down prices too. Located in the Gateway building on the corner of 4th and Oak streets. (medium-priced).

Hong Kong Noodle Restaurant: Condensed Matter Theoretician, Chuck Campbell found this family run restaurant to be "The real deal. The food we had was very good, and a bit unusual. Generous servings and low prices. One dish we really liked was stir-fried chives. Actually it is advertised on the board as salt fish with stir-fried chive flowers, but our friend told them to hold the fish. Delicious. We also had spicy Shanghai noodles, and chicken low mein. The usual equation: Three dishes for three people, but we only managed to eat half. They have congey (rice soup)--highly recommended..." Located at 901 Washington Ave. S.E. in Stadium Village, open from 4 p.m.- 1 a.m.

The Lotus: Traditional Vietnamese food, with some Szechwan and other popular Oriental cuisine thrown in for good measure. Their curry mock duck is a favorite for it's subtle spiciness. The Lotus has excellent food and a clean, quiet atmosphere with reasonable prices. Oak Street in Stadium Village. (medium-priced).

The Meadows: Upscale dining room in the Radisson, with a pricey, gourmet menu.

The Nolte Center: University cafeteria located in Nolte Hall (one block north of the Physics Building) that serves good sandwiches and vegetarian chili.

Orange Julius: Fast food chain that specializes in a thick orange drink known as the "Julius" that appeals to me in a nostalgic, if not culinary way. Washington Ave. S.E. in Stadium Village. (cheap).

Outside In: Hospital cafeteria on the second floor of the Phillips Wangensteen Building. (cheap).

Papa John's Pizza: Better than Domino's and Pizza Hut and they deliver.

Sally's: Bar and grill that caters to sport's fans with outdoor dining during nice weather. Located at 712 Washington Avenue in Stadium Village. (medium-priced).

Subway: Chain of fast food restaurants that serves submarine sandwhiches. 825 Washington Ave. S.E. in Stadium Village. (cheap).

Stub and Herbs: Grad Student hangout that serves burgers and walleye fingers. Located at 227 Oak Street in Stadium Village. (medium-priced).

Sushi Express: Clean, bright fast food restaurant featuring cute little boxes of sushi that are reasonably priced (for sushi) and made on the spot by the owner. Fresh, delicious, and probably the healthiest you can eat in 15 minutes. 929 Washington Ave. S.E. (pricey for fast food).

U-Garden: Classic Chinese-American Cuisine located at 2725 University Avenue Southeast.

Village Wok/Village Wok Express: Despite its somewhat infamous reputation for a less than pristine kitchen, the place is still packed at all hours of the day and night, probably the most ringing endorsement any restaurant could get. Their specialty is Cantonese seafood. Friendly to all budgets. 610 Washington Avenue across from the Radisson.

St. Paul Campus

Abu Nadar: Small deli and market that serves some of the best Middle Eastern food in the cities. Everything from the pita bread to the yogurt is made fresh daily, a fact which becomes abundantly clear when you bite into one their sandwhiches and meat pies. Corner of Raymond and Como, near the St. Paul Campus. (cheap).

Muffeletta's in the Park: Famous for their gourmet brunch served Minnesota-style, with a giant caramel roll. A neighborhood restaurant with obsequiously good service and pleasant outdoor dining.

Take the Campus Circulator (it's free!) to the St. Paul Campus, Student Union on Buford Street. Back track the bus route down Buford street till it intersects with Cleveland Ave. (That's the big street that runs alongside the St. Paul Campus), turn left and follow Cleveland for two blocks to Como Avenue. Turn right and follow Como for three blocks to Mufelleta's. Click here. for a menu.

St. Paul Student Center Terrace Cafe: This cafeteria operated by University Dining Services make-up the bulk of dining choices on the St. Paul campus. The Terrace Cafe (closed for the summer) offers a variety of fast-food type options. It's located in the St. Paul Student Center.

Westbank

Corner Sports Bar & Grill: 1501 Washington Ave. S.

Davanni's: Probably the best place to order pizza for delivery on campus. They also have hot Hoagies and pasta. 332-5551. (medium-priced).

Falafel King: Cafeteria specializing in Middle Eastern fare, and of course falafel. The little fried discs are wonderful when they just come out of the frier, but avoid them if they've been sitting under the heat lamps. (medium-priced).

Grandma's Saloon and Grill: Sponsor's of a famous Marathon in Duluth, this Minnesota chain serves burgers and grill sandwiches. Oh yeah, and for some reason, they have volleyball. 1810 Washington Ave. S., next to the Holiday Inn on the West bank. (medium-priced).

Hard Times Cafe: The food is an eclectic mix of skillfully-crafted punk vegan dishes and old fashioned diner fare. The clientele are as the name suggests in this coffee bar. Located on Riverside Avenue on the West bank. Located on Cedar Avenue just off 19th. (cheap, duh).

Jewel of India: Modest, tidy Indian restaurant that serves a fantastic lunch buffet (M-F) at reasonable prices. Curry dishes aren't too spicy or wimpy. They also have a full dinner menu. Located at 1427 Washington Avenue South on the West Bank. (medium-priced for buffet, pricey for dinner)

Kilimanjaro Cafe: When most people think of food in Minnesota they probably get visions of a character from a Garrison Keillor story chasing you down the driveway with a leftover hot dish in Tupperware. But exotic dining is easily found at the oldest of the West Bank's three East African Restaurants. Be prepared to eat with your hands since most dishes are served with flat bread on large platters and no silverware. Medium priced and located at 408 Cedar Ave. South on the West Bank. (medium-priced).

New Chili Time: The most casual and inexpensive of the three East African Restaurants located on the West Bank. The New Chili Time serves exotic, delicious food, but set aside extra time for any meal since the service tends to be somewhat random and painfully slow. Also serves breakfast all day and American dishes for those who like silverware. As their name suggests they also have good chili, served with spaghetti, an unusual twist in the Midwest. Located at 411 Cedar Ave So on the West Bank. (medium-priced).

North Country Co-op Deli: The oldest natural foods cooperative grocery in the area, also has one of the best deli bars on campus. Soups, sandwiches and cold drinks are always at the ready. My favorite cheap lunch is fresh fruit, exotic cheese scraps, fresh striato bread and strong coffee. You might need to take a look through the store to find everything but it's always interesting to browse there anyway. Located at 2129 Riverside Avenue on the West Bank. (cheap).

Sergeant Preston's: This bar whose theme is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police also serves burgers,soups and sandwiches. Outdoor seating and catering, located at 221 Cedar Avenue South on the West Bank. (medium-priced).

St. Martin's Table: The personal and the political were combined to create this cozy cafe/progressive bookstore. Delicious home made soups, sandwiches and desserts are served by a volunteer staff, with tips going to charity. The vibe is a bit like Lutheran Church basement, only the food is actually good and you will never be asked to eat Lutefisk. Located at 2001 Riverside Avenue. (cheap).

Town Hall Brewery: The brew pub trend may have come and gone with few tears shed at its passing, but this restaurant serves very drinkable specialty beers and elegant pub food. The dilettante goat cheese nachos are a meal unto themselves and their ginger buffalo wings are less cloying than most. Located at 1430 Washington Ave. So. on the West Bank. Outdoor seating and full menu with medium to pricey entrees and specials.

The Weinery: Vienna Beef hotdogs, fries and loads of quirky charm characterize this hot dog stand. The Weinery is a local landmark for hot dog connoisseurs and people watchers. At the corner of Cedar and Riverside.

University Dining Services on the West Bank

(PLEASE NOTE: Dining Services Cafeterias are open Monday through Friday. Saturday campus cafeterias will be closed)

Bistro West: Cafeteria located in the basement of the Humphrey Center.

Carlson Dining Center: Large new cafeteria, located in the Carlson School of Management, through the "Gopher Way" Tunnel.

Essentials and the Metropole: Small cafeteria and snack shop with pizza by the slice and pre-made sandwiches. Very busy right at noon, but good for a quick bite on the go. Located in Blegan Hall near the front entrance and bus stop. Go through the tunnel from the Humphrey Center to get to Blegen Hall.

Restaurants within an easy bus ride:

Chet's Taverna: Modeled after a European bistro down to the jars of olive oil in place of butter. Although Chet's is one of those places that arduously describes every item on the menu, it is also surprisingly unpretentious. They have a drinkable wine list, that won't break you when the bill comes, and a medium-priced selection of pastas and lunch specials. The pricier dinner entrées are gourmet renderings of classics like pork chops with mashed potatoes and lamb shanks.

Raymond Ave. at Territorial. Take the 16 A East toward downtown St. Paul to Raymond and University. Chet's is half a block North on Raymond, just down from the liquor store.

The Local: Located adjacent to a busy pub, the Local is a classic white table cloth and candles gourmet restaurant that tackles one the world's most misunderstood cuisine's--Irish. Fresh cream, vegetables, sea food and game make the Local so much more than potatoes or corned beef and cabbage. The head chef was imported by the Sligo-born proprietor of Kieran's Pub (which also serves a great meal in a less-formal, raucous atmosphere) who knows that Ireland might not be famous for good food, but it should be. Reservations are advisable. Click here for their web page.

1010 Nicollet Avenue Take the 16A West toward Minneapolis to Nicollet and 5th and walk three blocks south to the Local.

Pizza Luce: Quite possibly the best pizza in the Twin Cities, Luce has also gained the reputation as the coolest spot to eat downtown after 11 p.m. (Luce is one of the few places without a drive through that stays open past bar time, 1 a.m.). It gets a little crazy around noon and midnight, but the rest of the time, it's a sleepy, yet sophisticated pizza joint. While there are plenty of close rivals for the title of best pizza, Luce is the hands-down winner for the best tiramisu in town. Luce is also friendly to any budget: A slice and a coke is cheap. Split a pizza with a friend and you've got a medium-priced dinner. If you want wine and tiramisu, it can get pricey. Click here for a coupon.

119 N. 4th Street. Take the 16A West toward Minneapolis to Nicollet and 5th. Walk one block west to Hennepin Avenue. Cross the Avenue, turn right and walk one block to Hennepin and 4th. Turn left on 4th and one block further West. Luce is on the left hand side.

Vincents: An elegant restaurant, whose proprieter and head chef is a dashing Frenchman not afraid to serve rabbit kidney or tripe. The service is good, the food is adventurous, yet surprisingly earthy and everything about this place, down to the vase of fresh flowers in the ladies' room, says class. Reservations are advisable in evenings, if you can't get one, remember Vincent's serves a decadent lunch. (Pricey but oh so worth it.)

1100 Nicollet Avenue Take the 16A West toward Minneapolis to Nicollet and 5th and walk three blocks south to the Local.

Price Guide:

Cheap: 5 bucks or less. I don't count a snickers and a coke as a meal either. Restaurants in this category will always deliver a meal within the budget of your per-diem.

Medium-priced: You can eat, drink (including a glass of beer or wine) and pay the tip for under $10-$15 per person.

Pricey: Used to described pastries when they are more than a dollar a piece or any restaurant where they bring you that little pleather folder in which to discreetly place your credit card. $20 or more per person.

Neighborhood Locator:

Dinkytown refers to the neighborhood north of campus between University Avenue and 8th Street Southeast; and 13th and 15th Avenue Southeast.

Seven Corners refers to the complicated intersection on the West Bank, across the Washington Avenue Bridge, where Cedar, Washington Avenue and a number of other side streets come together to form a village.

Stadium Village refers to the area south and east of the mall along Washington Avenue, near the hospital. The Radisson and the Days Inn are in Stadium Village.

St. Paul Campus refers to the area around the University's smaller, more pastoral campus in St. Paul. Raymond and Como Avenues and Cleveland street are the main streets to look for on the map. There are free University buses that run between the two campus during week-days. On the week-ends the 16A East is the best way to get there.

The West Bank refers to the campus and environs on the West side of the Mississippi River, a ten minute walk across the Washington Avenue Bridge.