None More Black ([info]blueyeddevil) wrote,
@ 2009-06-06 00:10:00
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Achtung Foodies
So hey you Twin Citians:

My Parents' 40th Anniversary is coming up in about a month. My sister and I would like to take them out to a really, really nice restaurant here in the Twin Towns Of Terror. But we're having trouble deciding where.

Neither of us ever really go out to eat. We're more into cooking for ourselves than paying a shitload of money to have someone cook up something our amateur asses could probably do better. We would like to be impressed but more importantly our 'rents should be satisfied as well. And while we're fine with dropping some money on the dinner we don't want to have to take out a second mortgage on our houses merely for a friggin' night of food.

So if any of you have experience dining out in the Cities I'm interested in your opinions. But don't expect me to make it easy on you. Here's what we're looking for;

My Father likes steaks. Whichever restaurant we pick should serve a damn good steak that's a cut above what you might find in your typical-to-upscale establishment.

My Mother isn't very picky but she does like Italian cuisine. And seafood.

My Sister is a seafood expert as she works for a seafood distrbutor. She's also a wine snob who thumbs her nose at inferior brands.

My wife and I are pescatarians (vegetarians who eat seafood). Whichever restaurant we pick doesn't necessarily have to cater to our proclivities but should have a few solid choices that will make it worth our while so that everyone is happy and no one feels like they're just enduring the night.

In summary: Great steaks, good menu, fine wine selection, vegetarian options and spendy but not beyond our means.

Aaaaaand...GO!



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[info]freeimprov
2009-06-06 05:14 am UTC (link)
Mancini's Char House on 7th Ave in St Paul. Quite good steaks, very old-school atmosphere, I think you can get lobster/fish there as well (gawd help the vegetarian tho), and not insanely expensive for a GOOD steak.

I'd also recommend the Strip Club in St Paul. Significantly more expensive and MUCH hipper, but the steak options there are mindbending and they might have a decent fish as well. Be warned that their attitude is that vegetarians will be mocked.

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[info]blueyeddevil
2009-06-06 05:30 am UTC (link)
While I can take the ribbing (aheh) my wife is more sensitive and would like to eat somewhere at which she feels comfortable and accommodated. Hence the conundrum. Where can you find a fucking fantastic steak and still get great vegetarian fare? Does such a place exist?

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[info]433
2009-06-06 05:26 am UTC (link)
Fuckin' Murray's. You don't need anything else. Pescas like their tuna steak, real people like your father and myself will prefer their real steak.

Plus it's 63 years old. Fucking classic.

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[info]blueyeddevil
2009-06-06 05:32 am UTC (link)
Yeah, but I've heard Murray's is insanely expensive. I don't think there's a meal that exists for which I'm willing to pay $50 or more.

And Jessica ain't a fan of tuna steak. :/

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[info]433
2009-06-06 05:37 am UTC (link)
They have other seafood options.

A steak dinner at Murray's will run about $50/person, fish $40.

[info]sithlet took me to Fogo de Chao last year for my birthday. As a carnivore, I was in heaven. She gorged herself on the salad bar. However, calling it a "salad bar" is a misnomer, there was so much varied food there (including her favorite, fresh mozzarella balls) that she was stuffed. That was ~$45 for me (all I could eat meat and salad bar), and ~$20 for her (all she could eat salad bar).

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[info]lexinatrix
2009-06-06 05:43 am UTC (link)
I'd second Fogo de Chao as someplace good for carnivores and vegetarians. It's also a unique dining experience, and the service is typically excellent. It's well worth the $45/plate.

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[info]cadithial
2009-06-09 02:18 am UTC (link)
Not so much for vegetarians. They are oriented to the carnivores amongst us :). It's $50 a person as well. I've eaten there twice now. They've got a variety of beef, pork, and goat, with a little chicken thrown in. All skewers of meat. No fish and somewhat limited at the salad bar. All of it's good though.

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[info]ande2713
2009-06-06 05:42 am UTC (link)
I don't know if they have steak, or tuna, or whatever....but 112 eatery is the fucking shit. I love that place, and my family was converted, but not until after they made fun of it for having a hard to pronounce and somewhat "pretentious" menu (french).

sorry. not any help. I'd suggest a place like Ichiban or Benihanas' because I think they have what you want.

I'd also look at Hells Kitchen. It may not be as swank as you'd like, but they totally have vegetarian food, their Bison Burger is the fucking shit, and its a super awesome place to dine with good wine.

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[info]royalewcheeze
2009-06-06 07:56 am UTC (link)
http://www.mannyssteakhouse.com/

I've not personally been there. But I have heard it's excellent. A quick look at their menu shows quite a few seafood/shellfish options, a TON of steak options, a bunch of veggies, and Maker's Mark bread pudding for dessert.

http://www.theoceanaire.com/Location/Menu.aspx?id=1

not so much on the steaks, but it looks like their seafood variety is phenomenal.

http://www.wafrost.com/pdf/menudinner.pdf

this is four blocks from our place, and one of my coworkers loves it. There are vegetarian entrees (sweet and sour tofu steak and sweet english pea risotto with macadamia nuts) instead of just generic salads or resorting to pasta, which I always appreciate. Quite a few steaky seafoody options, as well.

http://www.ciaobellamn.com/

two of my coworkers also work here, and I've been meaning to check it out. If your mother loves Italian and your father loves steak, this might be a good option. There are quite a few veg/pescetarian options, they have a very nice wine list, and it's not too pricey.

hope that helps!

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[info]lokey
2009-06-06 01:58 pm UTC (link)
Jax Cafe might be an option.
http://www.jaxcafe.com/menus.php

They do steaks and seafood. The food is very good, and the seafood is so fresh you can actually net your own fish from the pond inside the restaurant. I was amazed the first time I walked in as the exterior looks like your standard NE bar/restaurant but inside is a beautiful atmosphere. I don't see much on the menu catering to the vegetarians in the crowd, though the cheese ravioli sounds tasty.

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[info]skywayman
2009-06-06 04:17 pm UTC (link)
My cousin's folks took us to Restaurant Max http://www.therestaurantmax.com/ The food was great. You're looking at $20-$30/plate before drinks. Dunno about the steak, check the menu.

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[info]dj_nitrogen
2009-06-06 05:43 pm UTC (link)
I second 112, Jax and Manny's recommendations.

http://www.112eatery.com/

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[info]redghost
2009-06-06 06:35 pm UTC (link)
You could always make them a nice meal at your home If you can't decide.

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[info]spitfire_sam
2009-06-06 11:09 pm UTC (link)
I second Fogo de Chao and add Erte. Erte has a neighborhood feel, and is not too expensive. Their filet mognon is the best in town and goes for about $28 with salad/soup and bread. They have vegetarian stuff in app's and sides, and fish. Nouveau Americana. Also the Red Stag Supper Club is good, more expensive than Erte though, and not as many veggie options- they have a more exclusive and small menu, but it's all organic and local. I think Erte does the sustainable thing too.

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[info]cadithial
2009-06-09 02:19 am UTC (link)
Ruth's Chris steakhouse is good as well.

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[info]cadithial
2009-06-09 02:19 am UTC (link)
As an aside, if you do fondue, I've heard that The Melting Pot is excellent.

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