Why make it when Jesus can?

Occasionally I get to go out to eat. I am cheap. Really cheap. So its hard to get me to do anything fun if it costs money. But one thing I will treat myself to once in a while is a nice dinner out. Or even a nice but not fancy dinner out. So here are some restaurant reviews from my excursions around Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Panera Bread: Ok I know you are probably thinking, what the heck, thats not like a real restaurant Katie its a bakery! But Panera actually has some of the best sandwiches and absolutely the best soup in a bread bowl I have had. (Renaissance Fest you were a close second). Our closest Panera that I know of is off White Bear Avenue just north of hwy 36. Its cozy and warm and features a lovely fire place in the center of the dining area. The wall paper needs to go and the paint could be touched up but its nice enough for a couple of sandwich eaters. I have never been dissappointed with the food and I highly recommend the Cream of Chicken with Wild Rice soup in a Sourdough bread bowl. So good. And you probably don't need to have it with a sandwich its so filling. Not too shabby for five bucks.

Manny's Tortas: I love this place. Both the Midtown Global Market and the Lake street locations are excellent although the Lake Street storefront restaurant is nicest comfort-wise. Their Mexican sandwiches (tortas!) are yummy with the right amount of spiciness, or if you can't handle too much hold the jalapenos. My personal favorite is the Turkey Torta and they come with chips too, get a lime Jarritos to wet your whistle! The price is right at about 7 bucks per sandwich.

Spiros International Imports: This place has a deli worth visiting if you want a quick lunch to go. The Gyros are delicious and messy. Sometimes the guy behind the counter makes fun of you but the food is cheap and filling and tastes good and its a good place to calm my gyro craving.

Mediterranean Cruise Cafe: If you actually know me than chances are I have mentioned this place a time or two or a dozen, or maybe I dragged you there. If I haven't call me up and lets go. They food here is awesome. You can start your meal with flaming cheese. Order the Cruise Feast to partake in a lovely Greek salad, pita bread, Gyro meat, Chicken kebabs, falafel and yummy rice. It is also the only place I have been lately where the meal is worth the $17 price tag. Because as an added bonus you get belly dancers! Lovely ladies work muscles I didn't know we had while you eat! They spin with things on their heads, they wear beautiful costumes and they teach little kids and birthday boys to wiggle their hips. Its a great dinner with a great show. They are getting a new place soon (June 2009) so hopefully it will be bigger and every seat can get a view of the stage. If you have a big group make a reservation. I think they only do reservations for 6 or more but if you can get one make one, and if you don't have one show up at an odd time like 5:37 or 7:22 because the doorway fills up fast. Go there, it will be amazing.

Dixies on Grand: This is southern food the spicy way. Each month they switch their featured state so they usually have something different to try. I had the catfish sandwich off of the normal menu when Josh and I went there most recently. It was pretty good but really really filling. I have had a few things there and they were good but I find the bbq stuff too spicy which is sad because that is always what I want. I was disappointed in the fact that they do not have hush puppies which is the best southern food ever. Their crab cakes are excellent but pricey. Parking is a huge hassle though (on weekends), even though they have a lot because they want to charge for valet service. So I park on the street a bock a way.

Mai Village: Ambiance is the best thing about this place. They have really nice Asian details on wall partitions and chairs, with bridges and Koi ponds and waterfalls I can see why someone would rent it out for a wedding (I know someone who did). However, the food is not that great. If its not a spicy dish it is bland. The spring rolls are about the best thing on the menu. But don't go there, we got food poisoning from the egg rolls once.

Hoa Bien: Luckily there is an even better Vietnamese restaurant just down the street where the food is always good and tasty and not poisonous. Hoa Bien was introduced to me on my first day at 314 studios almost 4 years ago. At that time it was a tiny building packed full of old booths and patrons scrambling to fill them for lunch. Since then they tore down the old place and built a huge building with a large dining area and a banquet room. The food stayed just as good and I still love the beef noodle salad. The egg roll version is awesome, and the broccoli chicken is the best I have ever had. Also good are spring rolls and egg rolls. Hoa Bien is run by a family and the servers are always really friendly. Highly recommended.

Ngon: Another "fancier" "Vietnamese Bistro," Ngon has a cozier atmosphere that you can probably take your hipster food snob friends too. Its elegant, there are swirls of sauce on your plates and yeah its more expensive. But not too much. The spring rolls are nice, and the chicken noodle salad is very good. I really like the sauce they use on the chicken. I have heard from reliable sources that most of the menu is worth eating although my picky brother (now eating rancid yak butter on his rice in Mongolia) didn't care much for his pho. But thats not what I want to eat anyway! Its the kind of place you take your parents when they are picking up the tab or I suppose you could take a date there to impress her/him. I hope the soap dispenser in the bathroom works better next time I go since I think I caught a cold there last time.

Ho Ho Gormet: This is one of my favorite places specifically because it is half a mile from my house and is yummy! I really love the Black Bean Chicken Hong Kong Style. Its a mouthful in name and flavor and serving size. I don't know what to say about this place other than they are fast, the buffet doesn't look worth it but its not everyday, the food is consistently good, the staff doesn't think you want to drink anything and they close early so get there early! Anyway the price is right and I want to eat that Chicken now.

Acapulco: Mmmmm Mexican food in Woodbury. Acapulco features some tasty burritos and yummy chimichangas. The wet burrito and creamed burrito are some of my favorite menu items and this place is one of the places that is always on the where do you want to go list. Sometimes the Maplewood location even has a mariachi trio playing which is awesome especially when they play only tv theme songs from the 50s-70s. Also the chips and salsa are addicting.

True Thai: I can't say I know too much about this place, yet. I went once and was really hungry and was very satisfied with my meal even when I wasn't sure I would like it. I got the red curry dish with chicken. It was creamy with coconut milk and delicious. My mouth is watering thinking about it. They also have yummy spring rolls and Josh was very happy with his Pad Thai. I hope we can go back some day and sit further inside the door and see the rest of the place but it was a good time with Dad and Daniel anyway!

I am still looking for a good bbq place, a meat and potatoes fish place, and more mexican restaurants to try, also more middle eastern/mediterranean places. If you know any good ones please advise!