yum! Kitchen and Bakery

★★★★☆ 4 (622) • $$

"Cute spot and great for large groups.You seat yourself and you order at the counter. The menu is comprehensive but I wish there was a kids menu. They seem to be family-friendly but it is hard to order for a child. For example, for me to get my child the chicken and fries they asked for I would have to pay $10 for 2 pieces of chicken and $8 for fries. The mac and cheese was good, and more importantly, my kids liked it! I like the turkey sandwich - loved the fresh onion and red pepper aioli. I also noticed that they focus on sustainability (glass cups, no straws, reusable napkins), but would be great to have some plastic or melamine cups for kids to avoid accidents. Overall cute place and I'll go back but hope they add kid-friendly meals to the menu!"

Tea House Chinese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (463) • $$

"This place is adorable. I met my friend for lunch and we were both pleasantly surprised by how cute it was inside. We were seated in a charming booth- the booths are cushined with pillows and curtains. We ordered some appetizers. Egg rolls and pan fried dumplings- both good. I ordered the Meizuh fried rice was absolutely delicous. It was light and not greasy at all. Wonderful taste and good with the hot mustard which was really hot! Will defintely be back to order some more. My friend ordered the chicken and vegetables which looked good and fresh. The menu was quite thick and had pictures which I like so we could see what we were ordering. Had to pull the prices up on our phones as they prices are not printed in english. Service was wonderful. Will definely return!"

Cheng Heng Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (308) • $$

"There weren't that many people there when we arrived, but locals started coming in soon after we seated. I got #22 as I heard it was quite famous and I'm glad i did, it was refreshing and savory! The chive pancakes were soft and the dough felt like mochi. The tea was strong but sweet and definitely worth the try!"

Black Sea Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (270) • $

"Immediately, trying to decide whether I should give four or five stars, but I cannot think of something I don't like about this place! I have been going here since moving back to Minnesota after undergraduate in 2008. I have never had a bad sandwich here. Or bad food in general. The food is plentiful and the fries are actually really really good. They remind me of McDonald's fries.I always get number 15, the lamb and beef gyro with french fries. It comes with tomatoes and onions, and then I ask for extra tzatziki sauce ifI'm getting it to go, otherwise they give you a bottle if you're eating in. I've also had the platters, the falafel and some of my friends have had the chicken platter. All of it was delicious. Wonderful flavors, hot and plentiful, and the meat is so tender with perfect spices. Even the pita bread is nice warm, and it taste fresh. It's not too thick to overwhelm the taste of the meat and it's not too thin so you can still eat it like a pocket sandwich. Honestly, one of the things that I love the most about this restaurant is that it is so consistent with the dishes that it makes. 15 years later, and the meat taste the same as back into the day. The picture I have is for the newer location off of Highway 61 in White Bear. Set me back $9.50.I just had this yesterday, and now that I'm writing the review, I want to eat it again, even though I just finished brunch! And am full!"

Taco Libre

★★★★☆ 4.1 (221) • $

"Ordered street tacos, one fish and with mushrooms, and both were fresh and delicious with the right amount of spice. Love the salsa bar too!"

India Palace

★★★★☆ 4.1 (203) • $$

"This is my local Indian go-to!! Everybody has their personal Indian spot and luckily for me it's one of the closer ones to my home - I would have been willing to drive for it though had it been further.The things that I would most recommend would be their tandoori murg and their tandoori shrimp. The tandoori murg has delicious, moist chicken thighs and legs that are served over tasty and pickle-y carrots anc onions. It is SO dang good!!! The shrimp is LOADED with spices and flavor and tends to be a little spicier than whatever level you tend to order it at, but it's so dang yummy!!! Together they're a perfect fusion.If you're looking for something a little saucier, their vindaloo is good, and I'd highly recommend their chicken with mushrooms - just all around solid food and a great value for what you pay!Also, if you're trying to get back to eating in restaurants, the place itself is a really classy little restaurant. It's got clean/modern classic vibes that you might not expect - perfect for a mid-week date night!!"

Hot Hands Pie & Biscuit

★★★★★ 4.6 (161) • $$

"Back again at hot hands! I got two frozen pies to go - they are a winter staple in my house. A very easy dinner and they include reheat instructions! I love that you can see into the bakery as they have large windows to see. I also grabbed a chai-der drink! Such a perfect fall delight. Staff is incredible friendly in this small down bakery!"

Taqueria Los Ocampo

★★★★☆ 3.9 (218) • $

"Late night menu hit the spot. The music is also a vibe. The service is quick. Great drunk food. I got nothing else to add."

Honey & Rye Bakehouse

★★★★☆ 4.2 (176) • $$

"Great food and service get here early things sell out fast nice place to hang out nice patio Limited parking"

Up Cafe & Up Coffee Roasters

★★★★★ 4.5 (144) • $

"Up coffee roasters is a gem hidden in an inconspicuous corner of the Como neighborhood. I've bought their coffee wholesale and love the flavor, so I was excited to pound out a few hours of work in the coffee shop today. The interior is fun and modern, and there's great music playing over the speakers. I had the lumberjack latte, which is sweet without being too overpowering. Still tastes like coffee, which is important!"

Mugshots Coffee Company

★★★★★ 4.5 (139) • $

"Came in for some coffee, very delicious and also did try one of the sandwiches which was also very good, service was friendly and fast! And it was such a nice open area to have a great conversation to catch up with friends!"

Sonny's Ice Cream

★★★★☆ 4.2 (142) • $$

"Oh...such a cute ice cream shop...with so many flavors. Love the courtyard seating area outside! My friends and I enjoyed our visit and we loved sitting outside, listening to music. Most of us got a scoop of ice cream and one of us got iced coffee. Delicious, and a fun visit!"

Thirsty Whale Bakery

★★★★★ 4.5 (111) • $$

"Just a hole in the wall bakery, but service was awesome, and super patient. Donuts were super tasty. Hot honey maple bacon, wow.Everything was fresh and wonderful."

Cornerstone Cafe & Catering

★★★★☆ 4.2 (119) • $$

"Nice breakfast. Nice crisp hash browns. Excellent chicken fried steak with nice country gravy. The coffee is classic diner coffee (which is too weak) but it was only 99 cents. The best thing about the experience was the server. I forgot her name but she was a joy."

Mu Mu Tea

★★★★☆ 4 (122) • $

"Desserts and bubble tea. Service is quick unless the moon cakes those wait, but still recommend ambiance chill hangout"

House of Wong

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (166) • $$

"The decline of Chinese dining isn't apparent here. For years - -I'm not kidding-- I've been looking for the type of Chinese food I grew up with. There are many reasons for its decline. That's another story. But now in Roseville the food brings me back to the old days when the superb food was dished out at the Nankin in a Minneapolis. My only problem was getting in the door. The front doors must have been designed by the engineers who built Fort Knox! They weigh a ton and there's no electric opener. Once inside, it was lovely. The tables are far enough apart to navigate over the firm carpet. Service was prompt as we were presented a very large menu selection of Chinese, American and Italian entrees. The specials alone are numerous. My impression is it's the type of place where nearly anyone can find a dish to enjoy. My wife is a vegan and she enjoyed Szechuan tofu stir fry. I chose the #1 combo: Chicken chow mein, egg foo yung, and an egg roll. The servings are huge. I took home half of my meals and enjoyed it even more the second time around the next day. As we were about to bag our left overs the server asked what kind of pie we wanted. It turns out our meals included a slice of pie not listed on the menu. I took a piece of banana cream and and apple. I doubt if many leave here hungry. It's fair to say all of the food was delicious. As I said earlier, it brought me back to when we had good Chinese food, not altered by the hybrids with other cuisines. But for the fans of American or Italian food; I'll have to review some of that later."

Iconos Gastro Cantina

★★★★☆ 4.1 (101)

"It was iconic! From the time you walk in it just feels different....intentional. The decor is all icons. Now.lets get to the food. I had the bacon wrapped shrimp. Ba-bay! Those are amazing! Amazing! And I,also had the carne asada. Sublime! I also had the margarita flight....so delish! Service felt slow.but was super friendly. I would definitely go again!"

La Bodega Taco Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (93) • $$

"Best quality meat I've had in a long time, tacos were delicious and flavorful. Will be back 110%"

Pittsburgh Blue

★★★★☆ 3.6 (109)

"Great service, all the typical upscale steakhouse fare, martini was great and so was my steak, a bit on the rare side (ordered MR) but I powered through it. Creamed spinach was not the traditional recipe, and I did not care for it."

Pizzeria Lucca

★★★★☆ 4.4 (63)

"Food, service and ambiance is amazing. Highly recommend. It's my new favorite place to pick up and eat across the street at the brewery."

Nellie's Ice Cream

★★★★☆ 4.4 (57)

"OMG ! Late night sweet tooth and the only place open and it was totally WORTH IT ! Small place and not too much space to sit but great taste . And great service . Ladies were very nice Nd patient with us !"

Starling

★★★★☆ 4.1 (65)

"Parking here is interesting. The lot was full. We ended up parking by the police station and walking a bit. The lot isn't big, so I expect it's a regular occurrence. They are named after the bird & draw inspiration from its global migratory nature. The cross-continental menu features dishes influenced by the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The drinks match the cuisine. I also had one of the best mocktails I've ever had! The Ted Starling! 10/10 This menu is fun to grab some items and share. What we tried: Vietnamese Coffee Martini - vodka, espresso, and sweetened condensed milkRed Starling (N/A) NA spirit, ube, cranberry, lime Hummus - chili crisp, Za'atar, sesame, crispy garlic paired with flatbread. of the menu. Very good! I loved this French Fries -curry salt w/ sambal aioli. I'd pass but the sauce was solid. Wok Fried Green Beans - garlic, soy, ginger OBSESSED this was my fav! Steamed Pork Buns - hoisin, pickled cucumber, daikon, carrots & herbs - these were a bit overcooked and chewy. Curry Cauliflower - Golden raisin, almond, cilantro. Yum I love this dish Chicken Yakisoba - wok friend noodles, chicken thighs, cobbage, carrots, scallions, crispy garlic, bonito and Japanese mayo. Loved this one: so flavorful. Tacos - Butter Chicken / Skrit Steak/ Braised Port Foster Manhattan - scotch, banana liquer, sweet vermouth, and bittersN/A Shiso Mojito - shiso, lime, soda Ube Tres Leches Cake - condensed milk, purple yam, whipped topping. So soft and tasty. Ice Cream Sandwich - churro, vanilla bean ice cream, cinnamon. I wish the churro was softer but sooo good."

Crumbl - Maple Grove

★★★★☆ 3.5 (85)

"Love the cookies and the app makes ordering super easy. Store is always clean and the ordering from the screen makes it seamless. Never disappointed!"

Buttercream Wedding Cakes & Desserts St Paul

★★★★☆ 3.6 (78) • $$$

"Honestly, I can't lie...this place did not live up to the hype. I almost feel like this place is the McDonald's of places to go wedding cake tasting ... everyone is like, are you going to Buttercream? Why oh why would you get your cake from here? Probably half of your friends are getting the same cake. And I know because after cake tasting, all their flavors tasted very similar. Bland cake and tasteless buttercream.Service is very cookie cutter standard. If you come here for a tasting, they give you the standard run down...square tiers or round, here's the price of a slice, lace on the sides or crystals. Moreover, the service here is pretty inconsistent because you never know the baker making your cake. Just ask them how many cakes are made every weekend ;)PS Don't fall for the free cake on your anniversary. Lot's of bakeries have that perk."

Rose Street Patisserie

★★★★☆ 4 (63)

"Came in for a quick bite with a date and it was such a cute place! The shop is light and airy and the food is actually pretty spectacular! I actually don't remember the kind of baguette that I ordered but the butter croissants were out of this world good and they have great cold press coffee. I would definitely come back here with friends!"

Carlo's Bakery

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (120) • $

"This bakeshop is located on the third floor next to the north food court. I've seen Carlos on TV and heard he was opening a bakery. When I heard a location opened at Mall of America, I had to go try the cake. The shop was full of desserts and treats behind the glass, ready to choose from and take home. There's someone behind the counter that will help you as you're looking at the desserts to put them in box or bags. Ambiance is like in and out, whatever is available is behind the glass. Whole cake, slices, canoli, cookies, etc. I had to buy a slice of the famous rainbow cake that everyone raves about."

Something Sweet by Maddie Lu

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (66) • $$$$

"Full disclosure- I love the Food Network and when Maddie Lu's brownies popped up on my social media feed- like a Pavlov trained consumer- I immediately got in my car and drove there. The shop was busy on the Saturday before Mother's Day. Many cake boxes were stacked up for pickup and a couple was engaged in a consultation with an employee. Being a first timer, I wanted to try a few treats. Opted for a 4-pack of cupcakes, a brownie 3-pack, and a chocolate covered strawberry 6-pack. When my bill was almost $50 my only thought was "My husband is going to kill me." I'm a pretty good baker, so I needed these to be amazing to justify the cost. We started with the brownies- the cookie dough brownie was a hard no. The cookie dough on top of the brownie tasted artificial. The cheesecake topped brownie (with whipped cream and three berries) was tastier, but had my family saying, "We like your cheesecake more." The chocolate Twix topped brownie was my personal favorite, but I'm a death by chocolate kinda gal. The consensus from the family was that I make better brownies (sorry Maddie Lu). Next up, the chocolate covered strawberries. They were nice large strawberries, but the chocolate was overly sweet and shattered off after the first bite. Now, I needed the cupcakes to be phenomenal. Our 4-pack included red velvet, vanilla, cookie dough, and lemon. Everyone liked the cupcakes. Depending on palates, there was a favorite for all. My favorite was the lemon, which was moist and refreshing. At $2.50 per cupcake, I wished I'd spent just $10 and walked away. Go for the cupcakes."

Merlin's Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (47) • $

"Felt existing reviews were unfairly harsh. I had a veggie skillet with cheddar cheese which comes over hash browns; everything tasted fresh and homemade. Kids meals were generous and the kids loved it. Coffee, adult entree and two kids was under $30 (even with inflation adjustments on the updated menu). I also wasn't up-charged for milk with my coffee instead of lame creamers.This is a really great diner and it's clear the locals love it, service was just fine. They have a light staff and do things like serve you your own personal coffee carafe for refills. Perfect. If you're expecting a saccharine waitress to chat you up while refilling your mug every 30 seconds I guess you'd be disappointed; the staff is very polite and efficient and that's all I require."

Lord Essex Tavern & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (45) • $$$

"Well, disappointment haunts all my dreams. Lord Essex is no longer Lord Essex. The Kahler Hotel (love the old place dearly) has moved its entire basic bar and restaurant into the old Lord Essex space and kept the name. The marvelous old steakhouse has been relegated to the dustbin of history. But, there is more!!!! It was announced this week that the space formerly occupied by the basic Kahler restaurant and bar has been leased and is being developed into a Ruth's Chris steakhouse! Great move, Kahler!!!!Advocating a major steakhouse is always risky business among the aficionados of such things. There are as many passionately held opinions as to what makes a great steakhouse as there are steakhouses. I've lived in Baton Rouge Louisiana and once was a regular customer of that early property in the franchise. Can't say enough good about it. Food, service, drink, and gracious Southern attitude. I've been to others across the country, some great, some not so. Regardless, the arrival of Ruth's in Rochester is a good thing and reason to hope for the best in a dining genre that has been largely missing for years. The location of the Kahler, immediately adjacent to the Mayo campus, makes it often considered the most valuable property In Minnesota. Location location location. It's as important to a restaurant operation as it is to real estate investment. Ruth's has the best in Rochester. Wish this venture well. Looking forward to being a regular customer if they get it right."

Warren's Restaurant and Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (43) • $$

"This ain't no formal joint. No suit or tie required. Just wear a belt that can be adjusted and loose-ish pants; The portions aren't small. You've been Warren-ed... ;)Here's a bar that sets the bar. Check it out:The Smoke Show with Smoked Meatloaf, Brisket, Pulled Pork, Cheddar, Cheddar Jack, Pepper Jack, Red Onion, Pickles, Apple Honey BBQ on Grilled Texas Toast Double Smoked Beef and Cheddar with Roast Beef, Hickory Smoked Cheddar and Fried Onions with Aus Jus Both from Warren's in good ol' Loretto Smoked Meatloaf. I mean... Say no more! A truly tantalizing tower of textural variety, every meat was magnificent. And any bbq sandwich is incomplete without a sauce and some melted cheese. But three kinds of queso... is that overkill? I can say it's not with confidence, cuz this was delicious!! The Smoke Show, ladies and gentlemen--10/10As you can probably tell, au jus makes an appearance with the baguette-based beauty a few swipes in. My fellow foodie found no faults with this menu selection, and from the looks of it I wouldn't disagree This small-town establishment has a heck of a creative menu for both the picky eaters and those with culinary courage. The house made meats aren't for the faint of heart, but they'll surpass your expectations and probably send you packing with leftovers. Or not... I had none"

Slice On Oak

★★★★★ 4.6 (28)

"What a find! Wife and I both agreed this was the best pizza crust we have had in a LONG TIME! Thin crust with a nice crisp edge. Almost like a pretzel crispy (without all the salt). Only place I have had a better thin crust was in Milan, Italy. Their mix of speciality pizzas is awesome. We had the seafood (shrimp, lump crab, diced red pepper and seasoned with old bay. You could really taste the crab (and it was real crab, not that whitefish imitation krab). We started with the stuffed bread. They had three to choose from and we had read on other post about the spinach stuffed, but upon seeing the hot coppa, we knew we had to try that. We were so impressed. Italian spicy salami, wrapped with peppers (don't worry these are Minnesota friendly) and cheese, then baked to perfection. They also have a good selection of tap beers that you can pay by the ounce. So no need to order a whole pint just to try something new. This place is off the beaten path, but we'll worth the trek. We will be back."

Los Ortizes Mexican Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (32) • $$

"This place never disappoints. This is not what you'd expect from a Mexican restaurant in a small town in the Midwest. They have molcajate, elote, horchata and much, much more! They have all of the regular Mexican fare with the addition of many seafood options. The onions and bell peppers are always cooked to perfection. Meat is always done well with tons of flavor- never dry. There is something for everyone here. One appetizer that our kids love (not seemingly very mexican) is the Isabella Fries- battered French fries with bacon (actual bacon, not bacon bits) and queso. Several nacho options, many different fajita options, vegetarian options, just too much to list."

GoGi Korean BBQ

★★★★★ 4.5 (26)

"I will preface this review by saying that I am Korean and also grew up in Los Angeles / Orange County which has some of the best korean food in the US. Is this place comparable to CA kbbq places? Obviously not but for being in Minneapolis I was pleasantly surprised. Nice restaurant, staff are very attentive, and plenty of parking. I had mixed feelings with the Banchan. Some were spot on in flavor and some tasted a bit watered down. The Deonjang jjigae was also a little watered down and could have used a bit more doenjang. The steamed egg was perfect and portion size was nearly double most other places. We ordered the samgyupsal, chadolbaegi, and jumulleok which all were very good. Portions were large. Dipping sauces were on point. Loved that they gave lettuce and ssamjang. Right now this has quickly moved up to my favorite kbbq spot in the twin cities. Sucks because it is a bit of a drive for me but if you are close by, definitely check them out. This is probably the closest thing to CA level KBBQ spot in MSP area."

El Loro Mexican Restaurant - Waite Park

★★★★☆ 3.7 (38) • $$

"Food was delicious and generous portions. Staff was incredibly friendly. Went to Sauk Rapids location to catch some live music!"

Nico's Tacos

★★★★☆ 4.1 (28)

"1st time at Nico's and it did not disappoint! I'm very picky with my Birria tacos but this place is at the top of the list! Fantastic! Queso was good. Elote was ehh. I didn't like that it came on the cob and had to cut it. Was too messy to eat and the corn was very small. Churros were decent, I wanted the tres Leche but was out so next time! Drinks were awesome! Great holiday selection! Definitely recommend!"