Anniversary restaurant reccomendations in Minneapolis St. Paul area?

September 20, 2014 5:22 AM

As parents of four year olds we don't get out much, and we're out of touch with the Twin Cities dining scene. Here's what we like; hoping someone has an inspired suggestion...

Our favorite all-time restaurant was the now-shuttered Bayport Cookery. We loved both the food and the way that restaurant created a sense of drama and pampered the diner. We also like restaurant Alma very much (probably our fallback this time). We like the Craftsman and Blackbird Cafe but this occasion probably calls for something slightly more formal and besides we end up at those places too much. We tried Heartland a little while back and found the food very good but the atmosphere at their new downtown St. Paul place very gloomy and lacking intimacy.

Given those references can you suggest something to fit the occasion? Go nuts!

Thanks.

posted by werkzeuger to Food & Drink (10 answers total)

Since you don't mind driving to Bayport, have you tried the Lake Elmo Inn? The food is great and it's the kind of formal, old-school place where they still do things like bring palate cleansers between course and wrap up your leftovers in a tinfoil swan. (My inner 8-year-old really loves the tinfoil swans)
posted by Flannery Culp at 6:02 AM on September 20, 2014

I haven't been, but Corner Table is supposed to be very good.
posted by clavicle at 6:29 AM on September 20, 2014

Best answer: I love Lucia's. Every time I go, I feel like this is what elegance is like once you get over being rich.
posted by advicepig at 7:25 AM on September 20, 2014

Best answer: I've eaten at a lot of higher-end TC restaurants and have yet to be to one that felt truly 'formal' (Forepaugh's, maybe? I haven't been there, but based on their website it looks more old-school dress-up than most other places.) La Belle Vie is also an exception - and exceptional.

Most recently I've been to Borough (+ their downstairs bar, Parlour) and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long a time. Seriously, the ''Radish" dish listed on their dessert menu is one of the most unlikely, most delicious things I've ever had.
posted by Bourbonesque at 10:46 AM on September 20, 2014

Best answer: My SO and I recently went to the 112 Eatery for her birthday. It's some fancy french cooking but at pretty reasonable prices and with a more casual atmosphere (Jean and sneakers are pretty normal). All of the food was amazing and it was nice to get such fancy food in such a casual atmosphere.
posted by VTX at 11:46 AM on September 20, 2014

It's expensive but arguably one of the best steakhouses in the US -Bruch steakhouse
posted by lpcxa0 at 3:04 PM on September 20, 2014

It's in Stillwater, not St. Paul, but my partner and I had two of the best meals we've ever had at Phil's Tara Hideaway. Reasonable prices and really good food.
posted by guster4lovers at 3:20 PM on September 20, 2014

Blackbird
posted by Confess, Fletch at 5:02 PM on September 20, 2014

Response by poster: These are great suggestions so far.

I should clarify that we're not looking for use-the-correct utensil FORMAL (not really looking to wear a suit/tie), so not so much Forepaugh's. The 112 Eatery is a nice suggestion VTX, it's been years since we've been and I'm glad they are still in business. We're looking for the combination of good cooking that takes itself seriously, sincere unpretentious service and a cozy, private atmosphere.

Confess, Fletch: I love the Blackbird and in particular their bahn mi, but lately I've been less impressed. It's more of a brunch/lunch place for us.

Yep, we're happy to drive up to mabe... an hour? forty-five minutes? if it's worth it.

Thanks everyone!
posted by werkzeuger at 5:37 PM on September 20, 2014

Response by poster: Upon research Corner Table looks very interesting also. Does anyone know what the ambience/space feels like there?

Being an anniversary this experience needs to be about us at least as much as the food, and I'd like a place conducive to that.
posted by werkzeuger at 5:58 PM on September 20, 2014