Joy Summers

Did Eli's Cajun wings make the cut?

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Top 10 French fries in the Twin Cities
Top 10 taquerias in the Twin Cities
Top 10 burgers in the Twin Cities

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A favorite side takes center stage

Despite that brief, embarrassing episode with the so-called freedom fries, a certain slice of Americana requires a plate of French fries. From a diner burger to sopping up the white wine and butter from mussels, from a perfectly cooked steak to a fat piece of cod, fries are an outstanding side. However, it's time to put the fry first. After many plates, baskets, and cones, we sorted through the soggies and compiled a list of the very best French fries to be found in the Twin Cities.

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Top 10 burgers in the Twin Cities
Top 10 hot dogs in the Twin Cities
Top 10 street eats in the Twin Cities

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Beyond Happy Meals: The best places for kids and their parents

For parents who love good food, finding a restaurant that they and their kids will enjoy is like finding gold. The criteria can be formidable: The atmosphere should be fairly casual and noise-tolerant, so kids and adults can relax; the menu should offer simple and familiar food for kids but sophisticated dishes for their minders; prices should be reasonable, so a night out with the brood won't break the bank; and service should be friendly and, most important, quick, to keep the little ones from getting restless. If the kids menu is also reasonably healthy, that's a bonus.

With all those parameters in mind, here are our top choices for dining out with the progeny.

See also:
Top 10 macaroni & cheese dishes in the Twin Cities
Top 10 pizzerias in the Twin Cities
Top 10 hot dogs in the Twin Cities

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It's taco time

Here in Minnesota, we're much closer to the land of elk burgers and Molson beer than the land of tamales and Tecate. We're never going to have the abundance of killer taquerias that pepper Los Angeles or Dallas. Nevertheless, we do have a handful that come close to conjuring a balmy Mexican breeze even on the darkest, coldest Minnesotan night. Here are our top 10 picks.

See also:

Top 10 Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities
Top 10 margaritas in the Twin Cities
Top 10 pizzerias in the Twin Cities

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Tony Nelson

At the Twin Cities' best steak joints, you'll need is a big appetite, a sharp knife, and a thick wallet

For all of the great advances and trends in local dining in recent years--fusion, small plates, exquisitely crafted platings, molecular gastronomy--for many meat-loving foodies there is still no experience quite like the primal thrill of biting into a big, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. And while the grass-fed, farm-to-table ethos has certainly enhanced the experience, many of the finest local steak houses seem immune to such concerns, lost in a time warp that has left them unchanged for decades; that retro chic, in fact, is part of their charm. So from modern to classic, here are our choices of where to find the best steaks in the Twin Cities.

See also:
Top 10 martinis in the Twin Cities
Top 10 romantic restaurants in the Twin Cities
Top 10 burgers in the Twin Cities

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DailyGreen.com

Sure, it's creative, but how is he going to sit down?

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Spending an evening at a great wine bar is one of life's most elegant, refined, and enjoyable dining experiences. Whether you're rediscovering a favorite wine; exploring little traveled regions, wineries, or varietals; seeking a perfect match of food and beverage; or just relaxing in good company, Twin Cities wine bars offer a world of taste adventures, and with so many opening in recent years, it's easy to find one nearby. Here are 10 of our favorite spots to pour a glass. They can be a destination in themselves or the perfect beginning or ending to a night on the town.

See also:

Top 10 craft cocktail bars in the Twin Cities
Top 10 late-night restaurants in the Twin Cities
Top 10 romantic restaurants in the Twin Cities

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City Pages photos

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Top 10 margaritas in the Twin Cities

Top 10 craft cocktail bars in the Twin Cities
Top 10 sandwiches in the Twin Cities

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The best spots to quaff a cocktail

There's never been a better time to be a drinker. It's become almost mandatory for every new restaurant of a certain price point to employ a master mixologist behind the bar. These days you can't swing a shaker without smacking over a few bottles of handmade bitters. While the craft cocktail movement has swept the nation, we are lucky to have in our midst a long list of talented leaders in the field. While we could easily rattle off 50 great places for drinks in the Twin Cities, we have narrowed the field to these top 10.

See also:
Top 10 sandwiches in the Twin Cities
Top 10 dive bars in the Twin Cities
Top 10 romantic restaurants in the Twin Cities

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Yumminess in a box

One hears "Japanese food" and immediately images of raw fish clinging delicately to pillows of plump and sticky balls of rice come to mind. But believe it or not, the good people of Japan do eat more than sushi and edamame. From gyoza dumplings to soba noodle dishes in fragrant miso broths to the flash and dazzle of the teppanyaki grill, this country's cuisine is as rich and varied as any other. Here are 10 of our top picks for places to explore all it has to offer here in the Twin Cities. Do itashimashite (you're welcome).

See also:
Top 10 sandwiches in the Twin Cities
Top 10 Middle Eastern Restaurants in the Twin Cities
Top 10 Italian restaurants in the Twin Cities

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