photo by kevin kramer
Restaurants that stand against the ever-changing tides of new tastes wind their way into the fabric of shared community history. These treasured rooms are where we remember prom dates, stops between weddings and receptions, destinations at the end of road trips, and where we return with family and friends to celebrate the special warmth of Minnesota hospitality. Whether refusing to eat the last mammoth Beijing-style wing at Monte Carlo in Minneapolis, insisting on eating the tiny triangle corner piece of a Sammy’s sausage pizza in Duluth, or swinging through Gordy’s in Cloquet for a burger and malt on the way to the cabin, life in our fair state wouldn’t be the same without these time-honored supper clubs and restaurants, which have served some truly memorable meals over the past 25 years and counting.
Classic Steakhouses
Classic Flavors From Around the World
Classic Diners
Classic Bars
Classic Burger Joints
Jason and Joy’s Top 10 Classics
Minnesota Monthly food critics Jason DeRusha and Joy Summers rank their favorite dining establishments of at least 25 years in the state.
Jason’s
Jax Cafe – Minneapolis
Prime rib with crispy hashbrowns
Dan’s Bar & Grill – New Trier
Stuffed cream cheese wonton burger, topped with sweet chili sauce
Holy Land – Minneapolis
The gyro is the classic, but get the stuffed grape leaves with the best hummus in town
Mancini’s – St. Paul
Lobster tail and sirloin combination
Monte Carlo – Minneapolis
Liver and onions—trust me! And a Manhattan.
Broders’ Cucina – Minneapolis
Chicken parmigiana sandwich with a slice of pizza on the side.
Cossetta – St. Paul
House-made Italian sausage and peppers with red sauce and the Cossetta Salad with crispy prosciutto
Market Bar-B-Que – Minneapolis
Barbecue chicken, slow roasted in a brick pit
Val’s Rapid Service – St. Cloud
Double cheeseburger, add bacon with French fries
El Burrito Mercado – St. Paul
Mole poblano in the restaurant, sopes platter at the express
Joy’s
Sammy’s Pizza – Duluth
Sausage pizza
Dusty’s Bar – Minneapolis
Dago with onions, peppers, and cheese
Monte Carlo – Minneapolis
Wings and a dirty martini
Gordy’s Hi-Hat – Cloquet
Cheeseburger and a chocolate malt
Mickey’s – St. Paul
America’s Favorite All-Day Meal, eggs over easy, sourdough toast, sausage links
Manicini’s – St. Paul
Steak and garlic bread
Uncle Loui’s Cafe – Duluth
Greek omelet with gyro meat and feta with a mammoth pancake on the side
Cecil’s – St. Paul
Matzo-ball chicken soup
Moscow n the Hill – St. Paul
Pelmeni, a shot of vodka, and a gherkin
Pickwick – Duluth
French dip
