A fun, classic, mid-western pub, RJ's is a great place to fill your tummies and knock back a pint, while still 

Come early, or come prepared to wait.  At Al's, which was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, there's always a line out the door, and with only 14 stools, sitting and gabbing for hours is just not possible.  At a width of only ten feet it's reportedly the narrowest restaurant in the Twin Cities.  Crammed into a former alleyway between two larger buildings, there is barely enough room for folks to stand in a single-file line behind the counter.  Chances are, the smarmy waitstaff WILL yell at you to move down to the old payphone (which is now only a life-size photo on the wall) if you dawdle in line, and you might even get asked if you want a bite of your neighbor's food if you drool over it too much.  A Twin Cities breakfast icon, their food is cheap, but amazingly delicious, their portions are generous, and the experience is one you'll be talking about forever!  (Kelsey's grandpa STILL talks about this place and it has been FOUR YEARS since she first took him here!)

Al's Breakfast
Price range: $1.50 for a never-ending cup of coffee, $4.00 - $8.00 for entrees, experience = priceless ;)

** not at all health-conscious friendly, vegan/vegetarians need not apply unless you're OK with your eggs being cooked on the same surface as the sausage and bacon...

The Seward Community Cafe has been collectively owned and operated since 1974.  With more vegan options than vegetarian, and more vegan/vegetarian options than not, this is truly a healthy eater's/veg's dream.  They have great organic/fair trade/shade grown coffee, the best biscuits and (cashew) gravy we've ever eaten, and such and extensive menu it's crazy!  Oh, and they are committed to social and environmental responsibility, self-reliance, and cooperation.  So they are good for YOU and for the community, the environment, and humanity.  :)

Seward Cafe
Price range:  $1.50 for a single cup to $4.75 for a 6-cup-pot of coffee, and anywhere from $3.75 for a half order of biscuits and gravy, to $10.00 for a super-red-green earth.

** very health-conscious, vegan, vegetarian, AND gluten-free friendly!

AMAZING chile rellanos, fantastic margaritas, and really great guacamole.  Seriously good folks.  However, it's a little pricey.  If you are staying in downtown Minneapolis or are having a shopping day along Nicollet Mall, this is a perfect place for happy hour.  They have awesome deals from 3-6pm on both drinks and appetizers, which makes all their prices a little more reasonable.  MASA's gorgeous patio paired with some tapas and a mojito or margarita on the rocks make for a beautiful Summer afternoon.

MASA
Price range: $10 cocktails, $5 beers, $10 appetizers (which are really small), and $15-$25 entrees

** health-conscious, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free friendly!

The Local, which is also located on Nicollet Mall, is a classic pub with great dark wood details, cozy private booths, and the best fish and chips in town.  PLUS, their biggest claim to fame? They sell more Jameson than any other bar in the world.  That's right.  They don't just sell the most Jameson outside of Dublin or something, but the most Jameson IN THE WORLD.  Pretty cool for a little bar in MN. :)

The Local
Price range: $7 cocktails, $6 wine and pints, $10-$20 entrees

** not health-conscious, vegan, or vegetarian friendly

The Blue Door: Home of the Juicy Blucy.

Ever heard of the South Minneapolis favorite, the "Juicy Lucy"? Well now is your chance to try its twisted sister (the Juicy Blucy). What is it? A 1/3lb. of lean angus beef, stuffed with cheese and all sorts of fixin's, then TOPPED with cheese and all sorts of fixin's, and served with the best tater tots (or fries, or beer battered green beans, or fried pickles) in town! You have to try it to believe it.  Kelsey's favorite? The Ballpark Blucy: meat stuffed with two different cheeses and onions, topped with cheddar, ketchup/mustard, and home-made jalapeno relish, then served with FRIED PICKLES(!!!). I know, right?  Meghan's favorite? The Luau: meat stuffed with mozzarella cheese and Canadian bacon, topped with pineapple slices and a deliciously sweet homemade chili-lime sauce, then served up with cajun tots. So good, you won't need to eat for a week! :)

Looking for great bar food and cheap, but GOOD local beer in the Twin Cities? Head to Sweeney's Saloon!

Not only is it a block away from Kelsey's apartment (and maybe just a few from your B&B? eh? eh?), but it is also a kick-ass place to grab great beer, have some awesome wings/burgers/fries, and generally experience an authentic old-fashioned Saint Paul pub. It was voted the best patio in the Twin Cities 6-years running, and that doesn't even include all their amazing Happy Hour deals!!! All in all, Sweeney's = best bar in Saint Paul. There have been many nights when Krista, Kelsey, and Meghan drank way too much here and had to stumble the 2 blocks home, so it is only fitting that y'all do, too!

La Grolla, "The Cup of Friendship"

At La Grolla, everything is good. According to City Pages, it is the definition of "ideal, upscale, neighborhood Italian."  The wine list and the servers are friendly. The food is accessible, recognizable, and so darn yummy you won't want to share any of their generous portions. The atmosphere here is fantastic for an intimate date, girls' night out, or even a large celebration, and, in the summer, nothing beats their gorgeous garden patio.  If you're looking for great Italian food, made by Italian chefs, this is the place for you!

Besides the excellence of the cuisine, our favorite thing about this place is the ambiance.  It's small, but still warm and intimate, with clean, classic modern lines, and an Asian flare.  (We also LOVE that you can bring in your own beer/wine!!!)  There is absolutely nothing better than spending a hot summer evening at Mango Thai, sitting out on Selby Ave, watching the world pass by, drinking a glass of sparkling rose and munching on some edemame or spicy pad thai with the ones you love.

One of our most favorite places to eat, this chef driven restaurant serves regional New American Cuisine in an Arts and Crafts (or "Craftsman" style) dining room.  Their Chef, Mike Phillips, is renowned for his commitment to sustainable agriculture, organic food, and local farmers.  It is hard to say what our favorite dish is because their selections are always changing with the seasons.  With each shift in weather comes a new menu with ingredients to match the produce of the moment.  Everything here is impeccably made, immaculately presented, and excellently served.  From start to finish, the guys that run this restaurant truly are craftsmen.