I love restaurant week because of its opportunity to try all the 'fancy restaurants' without the hefty prices. Granted, the food could taste different because so many new diners come in for this week long deal, but if restaurants were smart, they know they could easily lure in their potential loyal customers. The price of loyalty, right?
This entry is just a preview of some of the restaurants I have gone in the past, nothing real thorough. If anything, you should let me know about your experience and recommend or don't recommend me some places.
Link to restaurant week: http://mspmag.com/Contests-And-Promotions/Restaurant-Week/
Now... for the folks who has never heard of this or have the slightest clue on "restaurant week", here is a FAQ I made up in my head.
Q: First off, what is the Twin Cities' restaurant week?
A: Restaurant week is a week of local metropolitan area (Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding suburbs) restaurants that has a set menu of food for a set price (lunch or dinner) sponsored by the Mpls-St. Paul Magazine.
That's simply put. There are a variety of restaurants and cuisines you must try and lunch and dinner prices vary.
Q: Where are these restaurants?
A: It is located in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surround suburbs.
Q: How does it work?
A: Normally, you should reserve at the restaurant that is participating in Restaurant Week.
Some of the fancier ones in Minneapolis would require a reservation days ahead and if you're a careful planner, you'd mention it was for restaurant week. Otherwise, you could TRY to be seated and just ask your lovely waiter or waitress for the restaurant week menu.
Q: Dress code?
A: Look at the restaurant's website and see their attire requirements or setting.
Q: Where to eat first?
A: I would recommend eating at Fogo De Chao only because it's one of the better deals for Restaurant Week. It's $30 + tax/tip and you get a dessert as well. Make sure you ask them how they are doing the dessert. One time, we had to share desserts and that was interesting. PARKING WILL NOT BE FUN!
It's really up to you on where to go. Restaurants that you've been staring from afar like the food gawker you are... go there!
Q: When did I start restaurant week? Or even hear about it?It's really up to you on where to go. Restaurants that you've been staring from afar like the food gawker you are... go there!
A: About ... three years ago I went to restaurant week with some friends back in college. So Spring or Summer 2010. And I've gone to EVERY one of the seasons since then. I kept hearing about Fogo De Chao and so many other nice restaurants and randomly I stumbled on the msp website and... found restaurant week.
Q: My first restaurant week experience?
A: It was going to Fogo De Chao. I made reservations for 7 and it was a jolly ol' good time. From the start,
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| Must order drink (AT LEAST ONCE). It helps with the constant stuffing of protein. It's essentially a Brazilian pop as they described. $3 for this soda. |
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| Pro. You gotta watch 'em bring the meat, take plates away, and just make your eating experience like an entertaining nom fest. |
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| Poppers are SO DELICIOUS. Best bread like substance you could seriously pop them into your mouth like a drug! A wonderfully tasty piece of fluffy goodness. It is UNLIMITED. So are the other silver plates. The mash potato is the perfect complement to the meats. |
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| Graveyards. It's everywhere at Fogo. |
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| Some of their desserts including cream brulee and NY Style Cheese. Huge portions and normally we see the cakes being half eaten because it's SO RICH! |
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| You get these coasters that has two sides: green and red. Green means GO! You get more meat like the carnivore you are. Red means NO! No more meat, let me recover from the ones I had before. |
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| Rookie mistake. Most expensive dessert is just yogurt essentially. "Papaya cream" |
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| Clearly my face was in an eternal bliss with desserts and someone trying to steal it all away! |
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I probably went to Fogo at least five times in the past three years with different groups of people. Friends, family, coworkers etc. Over the seasons, the meat has gotten saltier in my opinion (or I can't take as much salt as before). So it's always nice to eat the meat first (Do not salad bar first! That is a sucker's move. - Kidding) and go after the salad bar next. They have such a nice variety of unique servings such as mushrooms, apple salad, and my favorite sweet tangy peppers, that I don't remember.
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| Sebastian Joe's for MORE dessert. Round II. |
Located in Loring Park. Very casual and still a nice meal to eat considering the sculpture park is close.
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| One of my favorite dates <3 |
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| Coconut flan. BEST DESSERT EVER. I am serious. Hands down. Best flan ever! It's sad they don't even serve it during restaurant week much alone their restaurant :( |
Other restaurants:
and a few others
Either I don't have the photos or I don't remember I put it on my computer for the other places.
I cannot wait for 2013 Restaurant Weeks!
If you have a recommended or unrecommendation for places, post post! Or even let me know about your experiences at other restaurants. I'd love to hear it! :)
