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Restaurant recommendations - at/near Nicollet Island Inn

My husband and I bought a groupon or living social deal for a discounted night at the Nicollet Island Inn awhile back, and our "in-town getaway" is coming up next weekend. 

Our original plan was to just have dinner there at the restaurant, but unfortunately,my husband just lost his job, completely unexpectedly, so we're trying to be somewhat budget-conscious while still enjoying a lovely relaxing date-night.  (The reservation is already paid for; no refunds.)

So while we'd usually be happy to splurge away on an expensive meal, it's now a little more urgent that the meal be really really WORTH the splurge... and we'd probably afford a delicious-but-not-crazy-expensive meal more, because we wouldn't have any feelings of guilt for spending too much money.

So with all that in mind...  any recommendations for good dinner/brunch dining options around Nicollet Island? 

Thanks!

Re: Restaurant recommendations - at/near Nicollet Island Inn

  • I am sorry to hear about your husband's loss.  I know this a weird recommendation, but I love the food at MAC's Industrial Bar.  Although, it may not scream relaxing date night.  Have a great night.
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  • Sorry to hear about your husband losing his job. I really like Pizza Nea in NE Mpls. We'll often split a pizza and large salad there. They have a yummy prosciutto and pear pizza. I've been wanting to try the Anchor Fish in NE but haven't made it there yet. I don't think their menu looks too pricey either and they get good reviews. Hope you have a nice weekend.

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  • I was going to say Anchor Fish as well - haven't been there yet but I hear RAVE reviews.  There is quite a bit right down hennepin - Nyes, Panera (cheap but good breakfast?) and I've always wanted to try kramarczuk.  My Dad says their sausages are outta this world. 
  • Sorry to hear about your H's job Flip. 

    I live in this area (a block from Nicollet Island Inn) here are my recommendations:

    -Masu (new Sushi place opened by Tim McKee and others) its absolutely AMAZING!!!! It can get a little spendy but I doesn't have to be: http://www.masusushiandrobata.com/

    -Gardens of Salonica: reasonable priced, fresh and REALLY good food, its one of our favorite places in our neighorhood! http://www.gardensofsalonica.com/

    -Red Stag: great food, great service, good options for veg/vegan. Prices are pretty reasonable for a nicer night out but not too over the top. http://www.redstagsupperclub.com/

    Other places: 

    -Bulldog (My H loves it, I don't eat red meat and they are known for their burgers)

    -Butcher block 

    -Ginger Hop is reasonable and the food is decent but nothing special

    -Punch Pizza is always great!

    -Rachel's: they just opened and have a temporary menu right now. We ate there a couple of weeks ago and it was good but nothing special. I also didn't care much for the owner when we met him

    Have Fun!

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  • imagewittyschaffy:
    I was going to say Anchor Fish as well - haven't been there yet but I hear RAVE reviews.  There is quite a bit right down hennepin - Nyes, Panera (cheap but good breakfast?) and I've always wanted to try kramarczuk.  My Dad says their sausages are outta this world. 

     

    Anchor Fish is ok. I've been there a couple of times. The first time it was good and the second time it was meh. I would go back though...

    Just to be clear, Anchoer is on 13th Ave NE in the Arts District. If you are looking for places close to Nicollet Island Inn, its not Super close.

    Other restuarants near Anchor that are good: Sample Room, Erte, Modern Cafe, Northeast Social 

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  • Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions!  These sound like some great options to choose from... I'm taking a look at Gardens of Salonica's menu right now--looks yummy!

    Thanks also for the kind words re: my husband's job.  His layoff came as a complete shock, and it's stressful because I'm grad student and only working part-time, and because we'd just made some pretty substantial financial decisions (bought plane tickets to Europe, paid down payments on home improvement projects for the summer) that we would NOT have made if we'd had any idea his job was in danger. :(  It's a bummer, but we're crossing our fingers and hoping he finds a new job that he loves soon! 

  • imageRachelandEduardo:

    Other restuarants near Anchor that are good: Sample Room, Erte, Modern Cafe, Northeast Social 

    Yes yes and yes!! 

     

    You could walk to Ginger Hop from Nicollet Island Inn.  It was yummy!!!

     

    Re: Anchor.  The one word I've heard consistently is GREASY.  And "meh".  

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  • We bought that too and used it on a Sunday so we could not have dinner there.   There are many restaurants I can think of in walking distance?.we have only ever eaten at two. 

    Nye?s is close and when my mother found out I did not go there, she was upset (since she thought we missed out on a really fun place).  I have never been there.  They have the menu and prices online.

    Kikugawa has ?at your table cooking? starting at $18.50.  There menu is also online.  I have not gone there.

    Tuggs Tavern is a smaller bar joint.  Cheaper food and sort of cool.  Menu and prices online.

    Pracna on Main is a place we go a couple times a summer.  It is also where we walked to when we used our groupon.  When the weather is nice it has an outdoor patio section. It is next a movie theater which has some odd films and some normal films.  The food is not outstanding, but something about it brings us back.

    I think there is at least one restaurant between Tuggs and Pracna, but I cannot think of it right now.

  • imageRachelandEduardo:

    -Red Stag: great food, great service, good options for veg/vegan. Prices are pretty reasonable for a nicer night out but not too over the top. http://www.redstagsupperclub.com/

    Funny, I always just assumed they'd be a meat and potatoes kind of place (because of their name), so when you mentioned there were good veg/vegan options, I took a look at their menu, and it sounds pretty good!  I never would've guessed!  (I'm vegetarian, so restaurants that have good veggie options are a definite plus!)

  • imagesunkiss177:

     

    Nye?s is close and when my mother found out I did not go there, she was upset (since she thought we missed out on a really fun place).  I have never been there.  They have the menu and prices online.

    I saw that Nye's was close, and I took a look at the menu, because I hear about it a lot, but I've never been.  Unfortunately (but not surprisingly, given what it is) it's a pretty meat-centered menu, so it probably won't be a great match for me anyway.

  • So many options! I used to live on St. Anthony Main and I miss it so much!

    #1 for me would be Aster Cafe. Their food is to DIE for and so reasonably priced. And they're right on St. Anthony Main, so easy to do a nice romantic walk before and afterwards.

    Totally agree with other PP - Pizza Nea, Ginger Hop, Butcher Block, all amazing options near there.

    Have fun!

    New Name, Old Nestie Blog: Career Girl Network
  • imagelittlemissflip:

    Funny, I always just assumed they'd be a meat and potatoes kind of place (because of their name), so when you mentioned there were good veg/vegan options, I took a look at their menu, and it sounds pretty good!  I never would've guessed!  (I'm vegetarian, so restaurants that have good veggie options are a definite plus!)

    Oooh I also love Red Stag!  We do office lunches there quite a bit and have NEVER been disappointed!

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  • Thanks again, everyone, for all the great suggestions! 
  • imagelittlemissflip:
    imageRachelandEduardo:

    -Red Stag: great food, great service, good options for veg/vegan. Prices are pretty reasonable for a nicer night out but not too over the top. http://www.redstagsupperclub.com/

    Funny, I always just assumed they'd be a meat and potatoes kind of place (because of their name), so when you mentioned there were good veg/vegan options, I took a look at their menu, and it sounds pretty good!  I never would've guessed!  (I'm vegetarian, so restaurants that have good veggie options are a definite plus!)

    I thought I remembered correctly that you were vegetarian! I'm not but I don't eat red meat or pork so I'm always checking out menus before hand. I've been really impressed with Red Stag's menu. I have a friend who has a Gluten allergy and they have accomodated her better than a lot of restuarants we've been too.

    Let me know where you decide to go and how you liked it. My H and I are total NE Mpls foodies if you couldn't tell!

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  • imageRachelandEduardo:
    imagelittlemissflip:
    imageRachelandEduardo:

    -Red Stag: great food, great service, good options for veg/vegan. Prices are pretty reasonable for a nicer night out but not too over the top. http://www.redstagsupperclub.com/

    Funny, I always just assumed they'd be a meat and potatoes kind of place (because of their name), so when you mentioned there were good veg/vegan options, I took a look at their menu, and it sounds pretty good!  I never would've guessed!  (I'm vegetarian, so restaurants that have good veggie options are a definite plus!)

    I thought I remembered correctly that you were vegetarian! I'm not but I don't eat red meat or pork so I'm always checking out menus before hand. I've been really impressed with Red Stag's menu. I have a friend who has a Gluten allergy and they have accomodated her better than a lot of restuarants we've been too.

    Let me know where you decide to go and how you liked it. My H and I are total NE Mpls foodies if you couldn't tell!

    Will do!  Thanks again! 

  • imagemac17:
    I am sorry to hear about your husband's loss.  I know this a weird recommendation, but I love the food at MAC's Industrial Bar.  Although, it may not scream relaxing date night.  Have a great night.

    OMG!  I was just thinking of this place the other night.  We went there about two years ago (???) and I LOVED what I ordered and was trying to remember the name of the restaurant....thanks! :)  I agree--it's super yummy, but not very romantic and date nighty.

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