Lunch at Convention Grill

During a recent afternoon of shenanigans with two friends, we visited Convention Grill on France Avenue in Edina for lunch. I had previously been a couple of times, but my friends were newbies to the CG experience.

Best known for its burgers and malts, the 1950s-style diner has a casual and relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for kids and families. The waitresses in their all white uniforms buzz about from table to table. Each time I've been there, it's been bustling with lunchtime activity.  

Fries come sort of family-style. The three of us shared this basket and each had plenty to go around. They're served piping hot and are crispy and delicious.

I also had the California-style bacon cheeseburger. I went true Americana and opted for American cheese. It reminds me of the cheeseburgers my mom would make as a kid, since we were an American cheese kind of family. To this day, one of the first things I do when I go home to visit is slice a few pieces of American cheese off the large block I know will be waiting for me just inside the refrigerator door. Thanks mom, for always having it at the ready :)

Back to the Convention Grill burger. It was well-prepared and filling. The cheese and bacon made it fantastic, and I would definitely classify it as one of the better burgers available in MSP.

In terms of the CG's malts, I would definitely recommend ordering! I had a bad cold when we visited, so I wasn't feeling up for the dairy indulgence, but I've had a malt there once before and loved it.  

Lunch at Patrick's

Last week, I basked in the glory of a "no plans Monday" - the day off because of President's Day and nothing planned except hanging out with my roommate.

After running some errands (and a fruitless hunt for sale boots), we decided to try Patrick's Bakery and Cafe in Edina for lunch. Nestled between a Heartbreaker and Papa Murphy's in a rather non-descript strip mall, Patrick's could easily be overlooked. But, once you walk through the doors, you're greeted by a beautiful dessert case, a bustling kitchen and a packed house.
I ordered the Chicken Ranch Wrap - filled with delicious, fresh and hearty chicken. It came with a side salad of mixed greens and a tomato-ey vinaigrette. Both the wrap and salad were well-prepared and satisfying. Best of all, it was priced right. Just goes to show sometimes even strip malls have delightful little gems.

Happy Hour at Beaujo's

After work on Friday, I went to Beaujo's Wine Bar & Bistro on 50th & France in Edina with a few colleagues for wine and appetizers. I'd heard that it was a perfect after-work spot and was looking forward to my first visit.

Having beat the dinner rush, we found a great table situated near the front of the restaurant. I was grateful for our early arrival since not long after, lines started forming at the door and were still there when we left nearly two hours later. In terms of service, I would say that it fell somewhere in the middle. Our server was pleasant but not stellar and helpful but not speedy.

For drinks, I went with the Riesling (my standard white wine selection), which was quite enjoyable.

We shared the breads and spreads and flatbread pizza. My favorite of the spreads was the rosemary feta cheese, although I was also a pretty big fan of the baba ghanoush.

The pizza came with ham, grapes and onions as toppings...and was to die for. The grapes brought out a really unique flavor and were a surprisingly wonderful addition.

My overall thought is that Beaujo's is a great little space in a perfect location. While our service was spotty and something that could be improved upon, the small plates were spot-on and the atmosphere was perfect for a relaxing, conversation-filled evening. I think next time I may have to give the steak salad a try.

Brunch at Edina Grill

This weekend marked my first visit to Edina Grill (my second to last stop on the Blue Plate Restaurant Company tour...although not sure I'll be making it out to Maple Grove any time soon). I've always thought of Longfellow Grill in Minneapolis as my favorite of the Blue Plate restaurants. It still is, but Edina Grill easily slid in as my second favorite.

Edina Grill is a great spot for brunch. It's ideally located on 50th and France in Edina and has a fairly extensive breakfast menu.

When we arrived Saturday morning, I was extremely grateful that we called ahead, leaving us with just a short 10-minute wait. The restaurant was filled to the brim, and we were seated in a booth just off the bar.
After not much deliberation, I decided to order the breakfast burrito. I vaguely recall reading somewhere that it's a superb choice. I wholeheartedly agree. It is stuffed with roasted pulled pork, black bean salsa, hash browns, scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese, and served with salsa verde, sour cream and salsa roja. I. Loved. It.

The best part about the burrito is that, while it's hearty and very filling, it doesn't have all the grease of your standard "bacon, eggs and hash browns" breakfast.

While Longfellow will always be in my heart (most notably for its cooler ambiance and slightly superior service), I don't feel the least bit guilty adding Edina Grill in as a regular in my still new-ish neighborhood.

Tuesday Night Dinner at McCormick & Schmick's

Thanks to Twitter, I found myself enjoying dinner last night, not at home as is customary on Tuesday evenings, but rather at seafood restaurant McCormick & Schmick's in Edina with my roommates.

@TCFOODFINDS hosts a daily local restaurant quiz, and if you get the answer right, your name is entered into a drawing for a gift certificate. I answered a question correctly last week about M&S's cheap happy hour eats and won a $50 GC to the restaurant's Edina location. Gotta love the power of Twitter.

Rather than putting the gift certificate toward the happy hour specials, we decided to treat ourselves and apply it to a nice dinner. I was especially excited since I'd been craving seafood for quite some time.

First up, a refreshing triple berry martini. Made with their homemade syrup, vodka, water and a splash of lime juice, I reveled in the complementary sweet and sour flavors.
For dinner, I ordered the seafood special, pairing together jumbo shrimp and a lobster tail. The meal came with a vegetable medley of squash, zucchini and tomatoes, and we ordered a side of mashed potatoes to share.

Simply put, this meal was heavenly. The shrimp were skewered, slightly grilled and accompanied by melted butter, and the lobster tail was joined by a rich and buttery lemon-flavored sauce. The vegetables were flavorful, and the mashed potatoes smooth and creamy.

Aside from the near heart attack you get just from looking at all that butter, there really wasn't a single thing I didn't love about this dinner. In terms of service, the staff was friendly and attentive. In fact, the managers went around to every table while we were there to ask about everyone's meal. I tend to think that's a nice added touch.

Seafood mission accomplished.

Dixie's Champagne Brunch

This weekend was a bit of a restaurant mania. In just two short days, I managed to eat out nearly every meal: Saturday breakfast at Our Kitchen, Saturday dinner at the Green Mill and Sunday brunch at Dixie's on Grand in Saint Paul.

My friends and I like to get together for Sunday brunch from time to time (a la Sex and the City) and had heard that Dixie's has a great champagne brunch offering, making it an easy choice for this weekend's gathering.

Served until 1:30 p.m., there are three lines of choices: traditional breakfast (scrambled eggs, scalloped potatoes, bacon, sausage, cornbread pudding, jambalaya, etc.), salads and fresh fruits, and desserts (pies, bars, fondue, etc.). Best of all, the brunch comes with bottomless glasses of champagne or mimosas.

I delighted in the scrambled eggs, scalloped potatoes, sausage, bacon and shrimp.
I had a hard time deciding between all of the dessert options, but eventually landed on the pumpkin/cream cheese roll, chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate mousse.

The strawberries were delish. However, I was a little disappointed by the pumpkin roll, which seemed slightly dry, and the chocolate mousse, which had a slight coffee flavor (I'm sure most coffee lovers would find it enjoyable though).The highlight of the experience was our attentive server who kept the mimosas flowing and checked back regularly. Another bonus: I wasn't hungry again until after 8 p.m.

A word to the wise: the Sunday brunch is the only offering from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., so make sure you have breakfast on the brain and are prepared to spend $19.95 before deciding on Dixie's :)

My other Sunday highlight: my first purchases at Sur La Table, a gourmet cooking store on 50th & France in Edina. I left a happy camper with a cookie jar, olive oil cruet and snowflake cookie cutter in-hand.