JD Hoyts

It's been awhile since my last post. Sorry about that! With the most recent Florida Update on Google, I've been busy testing the efficacy of the new algorithm. Anyways, I have much to write..so here goes!!!

My parents recently came to Minneapolis to visit (my sister came up from Atlanta as well!). We had a great time and ate very very well. One night we ventured out to JD Hoyts. This steak joint is just around the corner from me on 3rd Ave N and Washington. It's almost kitty corner (sp??) from the Monte Carlo -- which is a great place. To read another review about JD Hoyts go HERE.

Our experience at JD Hoyts was actually pretty good. The interior was vibrant and the noise level ok. Prices are a little elevated, but with beef prices so high right now, prices for steak are high everywhere. The portions were large, I had the pork ribs which were very good. I'm not talking about finger licking awesome ribs, but ribs that were tasty enough that you finished the entire rack. Nothing close to Vincent, but still a nice atmosphere, good service and very good food.

One last note about JD Hoyts, they do sort of nickel and dime you on the salads and potatoes. The server doesn't even tell you that they cost extra, she / he just says "would you like a salad with that? or would you like a potato with that?" That's confusing to the more budget conscious who my not have extensive fine dining experience..not too mention JD Hoyts is hardly fine dining. More of the feel of a chain joint, but with slightly better food and atmosphere.

So don't be afraid to visit JD Hoyts, it's an ok place. That should be there slogan..."JD Hoyts, a great ok place"

Brent

Vincent Restaurant

Every once-in-awhile an event comes along that changes your view of the world. For some that event has its roots in religion, maybe in a near death experience or even the death of a loved one. For others, those heightened levels of existence can result from great food, fine wine or exceptional art.

I once heard a sermon at a little Christian Reformed Church in South Bend, Indiana which finally gave voice to such life transforming events, the pastor called them "gestalt switches." The gestalt is the new way of viewing the world and the gestalt switch is the event that triggered the new perception. There is actually a whole branch of psychology called, what else, gestalt psychology, which focuses on the gestalt switch and its causes and effects. Anyways, that's neither here nor there, but it does allow me to properly segue into my most recent gestalt switch!

First and foremost, this is trivial, but notable, because it occurred on my birthday. If you turn 31, and if you are still single, and if you continue to seek the higher truths in life, any new gestalt, trivial or not, is welcomed and encouraged.

Most, I fear, cannot fully comprehend the essence of a remarkable meal. Many would simply try to inflict a sense of guilt for taking such pleasure in a meal when so many people in this world have no meal in which to partake. I'll have none of that. This piece is about my birthday and my very LONG search for an incredible restaurant in the Twin Cities. As such, guilt is cast aside (being an Objectivist, I feel none anyways), and I am free to partake in all that the Minneapolis dining scene has to offer!!

If you've read my previous reviews, the reader will note that I've left most restaurants dejected and disgusted. Sometimes I feel this way immediately and sometimes it takes a spell, but the result is always the same. I just cannot figure out why fine dining in Minneapolis has to be so difficult, why there are so many rednecks trying to pass off marginal cuisine at $30 an entrée. I'm convinced it's Minnesota ignorance. I've seen it embedded in their business practices and in their management styles, Minnesotans think they are doing something novel, which in fact, it's already been done, usually years before. Such attitudes are ultimately reflected in their restaurants.

Another argument could be made that the the patron is guilty. Knowing not the exquisite requirements of a great meal, they instead pass off marginal fare as the "creme de la creme" of fine dining...none of that for me.

Back to my birthday and our experience at Vincent at 11th and Nicollet in downtown Minneapolis. My first choice was Margaux in White Bear Lake. For weeks I have been craving great French wine and a tasty rack of lamb. My last visit to Margaux resulted in a wonderful night of food and fun. Their lamb was unparalleled. I left very very happy.

More to come..

Pracna Restaurant / Bar Review

Jen and I headed out to St. Anthony Main for some food on Saturday night. We decided to try Pracna on Main.

From the Web:

Pracna on Main
117 SE Main St.,
Minneapolis
(612) 379-3200

Built in 1890, Pracna stands as one of the oldest restaurants in the oldest street in town. It offers a spectacular skyline view of downtown Minneapolis as well as the beauty of the Mississipi River. The aged brassy bar keeps visitors coming back for Pracna’s Bloody Mary and legendary 1890 turkey sandwich with cranberry cream cheese. Or try their Shrimp Napolitana entrée. Old-world ambience on a quaint cobblestone street; seasonal sidewalk dining.

We started out with the Catfish strips appetizer. That was very good. Little spicy, but not too bad. Jen then ordered the Chicaken Pasta and I had the New York Strip. Our Ceasar Salads were not all that good. The dressing was somewhat watery and had a distinctly fishy taste to it. The croutons were stock and overall the salads were less than satisfactory. Jen's meal was just ok as well. The noodles were not adequately cooked and the sauce was extremely thick and rich. It was edible, and agreeable, but definitely nothing special.

My steak was good, a little too fatty, but not bad. My vegetables of carrots, broccolli and cauliflower were pretty good. My baked potato was very good. The rolls were ok, but they provided cheesy stock butter. Service was adequate but my sodas went unfilled and our dishes weren't cleared very quickly.

The atmosphere was nice, somehwat dark, lots of dark wood..however it the bar area, there were several couples smoking which also detracted from the overall experience. It's nice place to go for a very casual meal, perhaps next time we'll try their sandwiches, I guess that's what they are known for...Pracna is located right next door to the movie theater to it would be nice for a light dinner and then a movie...Kikugawa is just down the way and we ended getting a piece of chocolate cake to go from Vic's, which is a new restaurant with great food.

We'll try Pracna again,but only on a night where we have little to lose and little to do...

Back in Minnesota! Sakura Sushi Bar!

After a 27 day foray to my resort in Michigan (www.rosewoodpointe.com), I have returned with a renewed vigor and zest for life.

Great Homes in Minnesota continues to do very well. The graphic below shows that the site continues to receive greater and greater traffic counts. I expect September unique visitors to surpass 30,000, which is quite significant and ranks Great Homes in Minnesota one of the top real estate sites in the nation.

Due to the success of Great Homes in Minnesota, I have formed a new company, GreatHomesUSA, LLC which owns and operates similar sites in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Denver. We are scheduled to launch in Portland, Seattle and Chicago in the coming weeks.

On a separate note, Jen and I (yes, we are still together!!) visited Sakura Sushi in downtown St. Paul last night. I had been there once before and the food was excellent, lastnight was no different. I love Origami in Minneapolis, but I think the food at Sakura is at least as good if not better and the atmosphere is more open and casual. Parking can be difficult, but other than that I would suggest ordering the Sushi Deluxe platter for $25.00, it will save you some bucks and contains a nice variety of the offerings at Sakura.

Not sure how many people have tried Shabu Shabu, but when I was in Japan this quickly became one of my most favorite japanese meals. Sakura has traditional Japanese style sitting and also serves a mean Shabu Shabu. Jen and I hope to get back soon to give it a try ourselves.

The Melting Pot and Mall of America

On Sunday night, Jen and I headed out to the Mall of America, which was a big mistake. I really don't understand why anyone would shop there, outside of Nordstroms and perhaps a few specialty shops. It's so easy to get lost! And the stores close at 7pm on Sunday night...what a joke. With Saks not open on Sunday, Minneapolis pretty much sucks for shopping.

Anyways, so we left MOA and headed back downtown to dine at "The Melting Pot". MP is located on the corner of Marquette and 9th St. According to our server, reservations are always suggested and essential on the weekends. The atmosphere is fairly upscale. However, Jen and I were pretty casual, I was wearing shorts and Jen had on a pair slacks (but she still looked good!)..so perhaps she looked good enough for us both!. The other couples I saw were a bit more "dressed up"..but no worries...the seating is private in the sense that the booths are high, so when sitting it's not possible to the other patrons.

Pricing is aggressive, but not too bad. We got out of there with a $90 tab ($110 with tip)...but Jen was drinking soda and I had a couple glasses of Chianti (highly recommended!)..no desert. We ordered the three course "fondue for two"...for our cheese fondue we chose the "Spinach and Artichoke" with swiss cheese...that was incredible. That was actually very filling. The salads were next...I had the Chef Salad and enjoyed it, but it was nothing special. Jen had something with walnuts, can't remember what it was called. She didn't like it. Maybe she'll comment and tell us what she had?

Our server then arrived with the entrées. Even though I was getting full, I initially thought the portions were kind of small, we had chosen chicken, beef, salmon and shrimp. Vegetables such as squash, mushrooms, broccoli are also provided - potatoes too! According to our server, the vegetables / potatoes are "all you can eat."

I thought the entrées were great. Jen, however, was less then thrilled. She didn't really have a reason, but I don't think she liked the bouillabaisse (spelling?)...She did really like the shrimp.

Overall, I would return to The Melting Pot. Jen would return for the cheese fondue. According to our server, the cheese and chocolate fondues are also served at the bar -- which would be cool to eat and listen to some good jazz. Realistically, you could order just the cheese fondue, wine and some desert and that would be more than enough for a meal.

We may return to Oceanaire later this week so look for that update coming up!