5-8 Tavern and Grill | Maplewood, MN

Last week it was national cheese curd day, which is not a day I was prepared to miss.

You can see proof of my cheese curd obsession here.

I was super confused when I asked boyfriend where there were good cheese curds to try close to us in the East Metro and he suggested we go to 5-8 Tavern and Grill…Yes, it’s official, I was [last Thursday] years old when I discovered that 5-8 had more than just the Minneapolis location… (they actually have FOUR locations 🤦 ).

**Spoiler Alert: the cheese curds were amazing and I will definitely be visiting the 5-8 Maplewood location again!

The Wilder Scratch Kitchen | Bayport, MN

Trying new places hasn’t really been at the top of my list this summer due to the pandemic, but since moving back to the East suburbs (I miss Minneapolis so much) I’ve been wanting to get out and get reacquainted with the area…Fall is also perfect patio season which is the ideal dining scenario right now, so when my (sort of) brother and sister in-law (they’re actually my sister’s in-laws, but I’ll claim them all day everyday) invited me to grab cocktails and a snacks at The Wilder Scratch Kitchen in Bayport I was so excited, mostly because I didn’t even know it existed!

Being honest, their website is a hot mess, but they appear to be more active on their social media so I would recommend going to their Facebook for any information and the website actually directs you there for the current menu. (*job plug: if anyone who works there reads this and wants some website help, let me know! I work at a marketing agency and we do great work😂 )

Nicollet Island Inn | Northeast Minneapolis

I’ve been lucky to be able to get out of town pretty much all summer by visiting my parent’s lake home, but much like everyone else, I’ve been missing my friends a lot during social distancing. So when the stars aligned and Mikayla and I were both in town on Friday night I was beyond thrilled to have plans with someone else besides my boyfriend’s demon cat haha.

It was a beautiful day so I was excited when Mikayla suggested we go to Nicollet Island Inn, especially since I had never been!

Lolito Cantina | Stillwater, Minnesota

Even though I live in Minneapolis, I still drive all the way to A’Salonna in Stillwater, because I only trust Kelly to do my hair…luckily for me, I have family (Cecil & Noelle) in the area and they agreed to start an afternoon of “Saturday Funday” by meeting me and boyfriend for lunch and cocktails at Lolito Cantina!

Parlour Bar | North Loop, Minneapolis

I love the vibe at Parlour Bar and in fact have been to both the Minneapolis and the Saint Paul locations for cocktails. However, it was becoming quite apparent that I’ve been doing myself a disservice by not having ever eaten their burger. there.

The New Woodbury Cafe | Woodbury, Minnesota

I was excited to have an impromptu brunch with my friend Lisa when we both happened to be in Woodbury at the same time and I was even more excited when she suggested The New Woodbury Cafe since I had not been there yet.

Pazzaluna Urban Italian | Saint Paul, Minnesota

Every year my mom treats my sisters, grandma and myself to dinner and a play. This year we wanted to switch it up from our usual go-tos; the Orpheum and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. I was excited to try out the Ordway for 2 reasons: 1. the seating actually allowed me to have leg room! This is a rare feat at 5’10. In fact last year two women behind me where talking rudely about me, because they couldn’t easily see around me…I’m sorry for existing? Pay for better seats next time? and 2. it meant we got to try a new restaurant!

I will readily admit that when my coworkers asked me what play we were going to I had absolutely no idea (still don’t exactly remember the name and while the singing was beautiful I hated the outdated message that a woman is going to fall in love with a man who doesn’t love her back and “sacrifice herself” for his happiness…), but by 11am that morning I already had two dishes picked out at Pazzaluna Urban Italian … priorities.

Yang’s Chinese Restaurant | Woodbury Minnesota

I was staying over at Boyfriend’s house and (surprise) he had no groceries, so we were excited to try a new place, Yang’s Chinese Restaurant.
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Graze Provisions + Libations| North Loop Minneapolis

I was so excited to hear that there was another food hall that opened and that this one was in the North Loop and the perfect distance for an after work dinner! Graze Provisions + Libations has some super cute outdoor spaces that I’m excited to try when it’s not subzero temps and has quite a bit of sections of seating; sitting areas, private dining tables, hi tops, bar seating, and family style dining. Basically any vibe you’re looking for you can find.

They have a couple bars areas and also Honey & Rye where you can get some bakery items or coffee, but we’re going to focus on the food!

Kokapelli Deli | Downtown Minneapolis

If you’re like me it takes a really good reason for me to drag my butt out of the warmth of our office to go somewhere for lunch during the winter. Kokapelli Deli is good reason.

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Food & Drink spots throughout the Twin Cities (Minneapolis + St. Paul) and Minnesota.

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