Secrets of the City

I’ve wondered about Brasa, since I ride by it fairly often. Mostly, because it’s a freakin’ repurposed service station.

The review comment about it being really noisy, though, is probably enough to keep me away.

It’s probably noisy on a Friday night, as are 95% of other small restaurants in town. I go there for lunch often and I never once thought to myself that it was too loud (and I avoid noisy places if I can). During the summer the garage doors open up the entire south wall of the dining room to open air, so the sound isn’t trapped. I call foul on that claim.

The first few months it was open I was probably there twice a week for lunch. I never had to wait for a table. The food is excellent (understatement), the atmosphere is great, (the open garage doors rock). I never had problems with service. It was a coffee shop and bakery for a year or two before Brasa opened, not sure what it was before that, so don’t expect to be huffing gas fumes while you eat.

The pass on the sugar cane Coca-Cola on the reviewers part is regrettable. I won’t go there without getting one, even to go.

These are just my experiences of course. I felt compelled to write because I have re-visited Brasa more than any other local new restaurant. There aren’t many I would defend either, but Brasa is my favorite lunch spot. Have to say it doesn’t cross my mind for dinner often.

I just noticed the reviewer didn’t mention the collard greens or the fried yucca, the most obvious choices for sides at a southern/caribbean themed eatery. Then again, I don’t tend to eat very Minnesotan. I’ll leave the potato salad and sausage for Lunds or Kramarczuk’s.

Brasa is awesome for take out.

I can’t wait to try Vicky’s, oh!

I just noticed the reviewer didn’t mention the collard greens or the fried yucca, the most obvious choices for sides at a southern/caribbean themed eatery.

I opted for the grits on my first and (so far) only visit. Cause I just love grits.

I do miss Betty’s Buns & Bikes (or something like that), the motorbike themed coffee shop that was there before Brasa.

We ate at Citizen Cafe a few weeks ago as well. Thought it was awesome, so happy to have another good place in the area. But then again, I liked Sweet Lorraine’s.

Speaking of food. Mmmmm bacon. Anyway, speaking of food, I would like to thank G_Rote for recommending Little Szechuan. Wow! Just Wow!

I agree with Bill on Sonic. I’ve eaten there on trips down south and it’s nothing special as far as drive in food goes. I prefer the old timey independantly owned A&W’s anyway. Especially when you’re eating at one in a small town. My favorite is the one in Spring Valley, MN.

As for Brasa, I was thinking about taking my parents there over Labor Day weekend, if I can talk my dad out of wanting to eat at Brit’s for a Saturday lunch…

my cheddar grits > brasa’s cheddar grits
brasa’s pork shoulder > my pork shoulder
my mexican coke > than brasa’s mexican coke

my colombian coke > your mexican coke

my minnesotan meth > your columbian and mexican coke…

i need to meet some Colombians. maybe I should start hanging out @ Maria’s.

mnblrmkr, Brasa has outdoor seating. Hit that on a nice day. It’s definitely worth checking out.

If A&Ws are your thing, try the one in Austin. It’s open from May-August/September but it definitely has Sonic beat by many miles.

A&W has nothing on The Drive In (Frostop?) in Taylor’s Falls. Carhops, California cheeseburgers, fried green beans, best onion rings anywhere, Beach Boys on the hifi and tasty tasty root beer floats.

Oh man, I remember going to A&W in Blaine back in the day. It was around the last time I went to Porky’s. I need to go to Porky’s again…

You can buy Mexican coke at any Rainbow, in the “ethnic foods” section. I buy it for my Cuba Libres. Also, try vodka & Juaritos pina (pineapple)soda. Ole!

The A & W on Rice Street is just like the old-timey A & W places you remember, bix. I also strongly recommend Connie’s Creamy Cone on Dale in St. Paul. Chili dog heaven!

G rote, coupla weeks ago you said something about getting wood for your smoker. What is the name of the place, and was it reasonable?

Is there any place that makes real cherry cokes and old fashioned sodas?

I can confirm they are looking to open another Brasa near Grand in St Paul. A good friend is the pasty chef at the Current location.

Is there any place that makes real cherry cokes and old fashioned sodas?

There’s a place about a mile from your house.

Conny’s Creamy Cone was featured in one of those beloved Star Tribune Summertime Vignettes.

I think the 50s Grill in Brooklyn Center still makes real cherry cokes and old fashioned sodas. Most bars will make you a real cherry coke also.

A good friend is the pasty chef at the Current location.
Cornish Pasties? or Stripper pasties?

A crisp breeze whisks through the stubborn golden light; the sun is not quite ready to set. Traffic motors by, and when the stoplight holds at red, exhaust mingles with the sweet and greasy smells wafting from Conny’s.

I like Sonic and I like Culvers. If you don’t like it, don’t eat there. I’m just disappointed there isn’t one closer to Minneapolis.

I remember reading that summer vignette with some delight, Rat. I rarely stop there, but I treat myself a couple of times each summer.

I think the 50s Grill in Brooklyn Center still makes real cherry cokes and old fashioned sodas.

Not to mention damned good pie.

Is anyone else interested in trying out the Liberian place?

Minneapolis is just an overhyped suburb of Saint Paul, bix.

Is anyone else interested in trying out the Liberian place?

Do I have to read “Atlas Shrugged” first?

Oh. Liberian. Never mind…

The only thing I don’t like about Culvers is that they don’t put any condiments on the burgers unless you ask. WTF?

lunch…with props to David Brauer, here’s a review of the place. As reasonable as anywhere else in town, with a better selection. But a totally sketchy off-the-grid kind of vibe…felt like I was intruding on some sort of moonshining operation, which you just don’t get @ Home Depot. CAVEAT: call first…they spend much of the day on deliveries. Also, the door is on the 29th Street side…DO NOT knock on the door facing 17th Ave unless you are ISO an ass kicking.

St. Paul is just an overhyped Wisconsin town, bob.

I read a book about Liberia. Not a pleasant place.

Well, I’m not suggesting we go to Monrovia to eat. Just a restaurant owned by a Liberian woman in BP.

Which book was it? I’ve read most of the ones I can find.

Porkey’s=Best excuse to take Central/Hwy 65 up to Kanabec County.

Also, there’s an A&W in Baldwin, WI on I-94… only about 40 minutes from Mpls. Brilliant stuff, really.

The only thing I don’t like about Culvers is that they don’t put any condiments on the burgers unless you ask. WTF?

The way it should be Alie–I order most of my burgers plain!
A good burger place will serve them plain–the shitty burger places smother them in condients so you can’t tell the beef is actually ground fat

A good friend is the pasty chef at the Current location.
Cornish Pasties? or Stripper pasties?

I was going to suggest he might want to take some time off and get a little bit of sun.

The Darling by Russell Banks.

kurtis- I would be up for the long trip to the BP to try out Liberian food.

He actually works the night shift and was never a fan of the sun so he is usually quite pasty.

Damn miss one “r” and take it in the shorts!

Who has eaten @ the weinery in Mpls..?
I saw it on Food Network, but had never even heard of it after living here a long time.

True, baker, but I usually like a little bit of mustard or a pickle or something…plus, the burgers at Culvers I’ve had were cooked within an inch of their lives.

You could have left out another ‘r’ and taken shots.

baker, I’ve been wanting to try the Wienery, too.

I prefer it in the shorts.

Did you see it on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?
That guy is sort of a douche, but he does seek out some places that look phenomenally greasy good.

Culver’s is just a watered down fast food version of this place. Which is right off the freeway and within stumbling distance of the Sprecher Brewery…both of which are required stops on any tour of Milwaukee.

I’ll post about it to an open thread when I get back from my trip, KC. There’s a few NW Mpls, NW Mpls suburbs people. And the brunch at Vicky’s sounds awesome. I was just talking to my wife about it and it’s a coincidence it shows up on Mnspeak the next day.

Banks is a great writer, Rat, and his characterization of Charles Taylor was interesting.

Baker, yep, but I think I also heard about it on MNSpeak. I think bob or grote was talking about it.

The last episode of that show, he was at Bryant Lake Bowl.

Diners Dives and Drive-ins guy has an HDL reading of 6000. Did someone say Wienery?

g_rote thanks. I couldn’t find lump charcoal at my usual source recently, and my cord of oak is gone too. I have a bounty of chilis and peppers that need smoking.

I think the only thing stopping me from going to The Wienery (heh) is that I really only like mustard on my hot dog. I hate trying to eat those hot dogs piled high with toppings.

Although, the Drive-In Dog looked pretty damn good. I love me some coleslaw.

St. Paul is just an overhyped Wisconsin town, bob.

touche! Maybe, but without the smoke and beer cheese soup.

I think bob or grote was talking about it.

Tru dat. They were filming at the Modern Cafe when I stopped in the 331 for an E85 Cocktail earlier this summer.

I had the most wonderful kraut from Kramarczuk’s last weekend. You don’t even need a hot dog for this wonderful concoction.

speaking of Kramarczuk’s, they ought to offer tailgating on Viking Sunday mornings. In fact, that whole neighborhood should band together for it, since Nye’s already has the shuttle and the booze…but not really the right food.

Krams is awesome. Between that and the Bulldog burgers and Brasa’s roast pork, you have the three best arguments against vegetarianism all in a four-block stroll.

I had the most wonderful kraut from Kramarczuk’s last weekend.

Them Poles do kraut right. It is served with every holiday meal at my Uncle Josef’s place in Indianapolis.

Bonus: It’s high in Vitamin C.

If you like Connie’s, be sure and check out the Dari-ette on Minnehaha in east St. Paul. Great drive-in with Eye-talian food and soft-serve. I almost always stop there after a long bike ride.

I don’t get the appeal of Sonic. It’s just fast food. Where’s the love? I read somewhere that their “creamy treats” are actually non-dairy. I could be wrong. I guess the thing about the Sonic hype is the same thing that eluded me about Krispy Kreme which, I’m sorry, we’re just really crappy doughnuts.

For the veg lovers, I recommend the very good Schezwan Tofu at Surdyks cheese shop and deli.

nom nom nom

I’ve heard nothing but good reviews of the Dari-ette (thankfully not named the Dair-aire!), salotha.

g rote, I am heading to Milwaukee this weekend for the brewers game. Is this place a must stop?

I work near Brasa, but hadn’t eaten there as I happen to be vegan. Some co-workers finally talked me into joining them for lunch there and I was pleasantly surprised by the vegan options. Black beans, yellow rice, yucca, plantains, and the yams (without the sausage). I live in St. Paul and would welcome a Grand Ave location as well. Speaking of, is that new Punch open yet?

Also in local restaurant news, last night I tried Cafe Agri – at 43rd and Bryant – and thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

is that new Punch open yet?

I don’t think so. I stopped in at Caribou next door this AM and it was still under construction.

I made some great pork tacos last night. Thin sliced pork, rubbed with chili powder, salt and pepper, cooked in red pepper and onion, put on heated tortillas with two grated cheeses and fresh tomatoes from the garden.

there are quite a few must stop places in Milwaukee…depends how long you’re going to be there. Here are a few off the top of my head:
-Three Brothers Serbian Restaurant (S. of DT in Lakeview) for Burek…this is the single best dish in all of Milwaukee, no joke.
-Speed Queen BBQ (drive through, saucy, ghettoesque hood west of DT)
-Conejito’s divey mexican late night (S. of DT.) $1 beers and $3 paper plates of greasy Mexican goodness.
-Benji’s (Oakland Ave in Shorewood) or Jake’s (North Ave Ghetto..prolly @ Miller Park too, as it’s owned by Bud Selig) for hand carved warm corned beef on caraway rye.
-Solly’s butter burgers (see previous link)
-Sprecher or Lakefront Brewery tour (skip Miller)
-Miller Park for Brats with Secret Stadium Sauce
-Usinger Sausage Factory Store (DT)

Oh, and grote, I would love a few suggestions for a delicious greasy breakfast place in Milwaukee as well.

Cafe Agri cracks me up. They say: “Agri is an organic restaurant with a focus on food that is locally grown using sustainable methods.” I

f you go to their dinner menu the first thing listed (dessert) has walnuts, the next thing has plantains and the next thing has figs as a main ingredients, none of which could possibly be local.

Scrolling down to Entrees, the first one has pineapple, the second one hazelnuts, the third orange juice, coconuts and macadamias. Again, all ingredients which are impossible to be local.

All this talk of Dari-ettes is reminding me of the B&G Milkyways in Sioux Falls. Walk-up malt shops that served knock offs of Blizzards and kick ass strawberry soft serve. If you ever find yourself in my fair hometown in the summer (open from Memorial Day to Labor Day), you should stop in.

I made some great pork tacos last night. Thin sliced pork, rubbed with chili powder, salt and pepper, cooked in red pepper and onion, put on heated tortillas with two grated cheeses and fresh tomatoes from the garden.

Still tacos. It’s a grunt food.

Baker, it’s not a breakfast place, but consider Solly’s for lunch and Cafe Coquette for dinner. Solly’s is basically sin. Cafe Coquette is class. You won’t regret either.

thanks guys, for the suggestions

Benji’s Deli on Oakland Ave makes hoppel poppel…deep fried american potatoes and chunks of Best’s Salami tossed with diced peppers & onions and bound with eggs. You really can’t beat it for greasy-spoon-ness.

For a more brunch-y type menu, we loved the Hi-Hat on Brady Street, or Gil’s Cafe on Downer (it has since been reincarnated as Cafe Hollander, and seems to have retained the great brunch…you can’t beat their triangular patio in the busy pedestrian friendly intersection on a sunny AM)…it was visible from the sun room of our old beloved apartment.

Still tacos. It’s a grunt food.
ROTFL

Again, all ingredients which are impossible to be local.

kc! – I did think that was a little odd. Especially since I get my produce from a CSA based out of North Branch, and I think that may have been how I heard about Cafe Agri to begin with. Dishes we ordered last night contained avocado, brazil nuts, and kalamata olives. Definitely not local, but I still enjoyed their food.

David wins the internet for today!

In the name of selling you on Benji’s (ancient) Deli, here is a photo of hoppel poppel in action. IMHO it’s the best greasy breakfast in the world. Now I’m really hungry.

I haven’t tried Agri’s food yet, it is super close to me, so I really want to, but they need to either tone down their “our food is local” stance or start offering some more local food.

And I also find it weird that they have little in way of local cheeses and meats on the menu, which is what we have lots of year round here.

And speaking of St. Paul – The Bulldog is opening in Lowertown right on Mears Park. Apparently they want to open in time or the RNC but I think that’s a stretch. And Sharyn, I’ve heard they have veggie dogs at the Bulldog, so that should scratch the itch until Punch opens up.

Grote, I used to make a version of that (my mom used to make it too), only we would use cubed ham instead of salami. Very popular breakfast item the morning after Easter.

It’s a grunt food

If I added guacamole, salsa, olives, lettuce and three or four other ingredients, I’d agree with you.

As it was, I was resourcefully using what we had in the fridge.

As it was, I was resourcefully using what we had in the fridge.

To make grunt food.

I’m dumb. what is a “grunt food” ?

Food that doesn’t impress the rat.

Like hawker noodles, he hates them so much.

Punch put up pictures of the Grand Avenue oven on their blog today. Looks like they’ll be open September 15th.