Camacho Watcho

Sandwiches are usually are not my thing, unless they happen to be grilled or are in the form of a burger. I don’t know what it is, but I just don’t usually crave a deli sandwich. But that was before I met the roast beef sandwich at Be’wiched. I am forever changed and will crave this sandwich forever more.

Saturday afternoon was bright and sunny with a clear blue sky…which in Minnesota during the winter is a telltale sign that the air is crisp and cold. And besides being cold I was hungry…really hungry. I had eaten at Be’wiched last August right after it opened and remembered liking it very much, yet I hadn’t been back and without good reason. So on that crisp, winter day we headed to this sandwich and deli shop in the Warehouse District.

Just as I had remembered it, the inside is bright and open, with large windows that allow the warm rays of sun to shine in. We ordered up at the counter, paid and then sat with our number to wait for our food. I had to say that I was impressed with the price and the service. We both ordered a half sandwich (a rather large half sandwich, I’d say) and soup, which came with house made pickles and a drink for $8.50. The bonus for this price is that all their food is house made (including the cured meats and the soups) and the ingredients are all sourced locally and are organic when possible. The service was great too! We got our food very quickly and when I asked a few questions about the food, our server gladly asked one of the owners for some info and got back to me quickly.

Kyle’s ham sandwich with brie and apple was very good, but I personally think my sandwich was better. Layers of roast beef with havarti, horseradish, and pickled sweet onions on ciabatta…wow. Again…WOW. And the soup, well, I absolutely loved the soup. It was called ‘cream of Summit beer and white cheddar cheese soup’. The taste was bitter and edgy, from both the Summit and the sharp cheddar, yet smooth and creamy. Delicious.

I don’t know what took me so long to return after my first visit, but Be’wiched has cast a spell on me and I definitely won’t make that mistake again.

Be’wiched
800 Washington Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN
612.767.4330

Awhile back I was reading a friend’s blog post about the Omnivore’s 100 (or the 100 foods to eat before you die). On his list of things he had yet to try was Mole Poblano. Mole (mole-ay) is a Mexican sauce made of ground spices and chiles and it is typically made for special occasions such as weddings due to its lengthy preparation process. I had helped my mom and sister make mole a few years back for Christmas Eve dinner so I decided to give it a go and offered to make Mole Poblano.

While mole in general is made of ground spices and chiles, mole poblano is a bit different due to its history and the addition of one ingredient in particular…chocolate. According to my cookbook “Mexico The Beautiful”, there are several legends about the creation of mole poblano. They tell the tale that the head sister at the convent of Santa Rosa was charged with creating a meal for the archbishop and Spanish viceroy. She used the Mexican mole as the base and added chocolate, which she knew was an ingredient used for royalty. In the end, she created “a festive dish that epitomizes the culinary marriage between the Spanish and Mexican worlds.”

It sounds simple, but let me tell you, mole is the furthest thing from simple. Just check out the ingredient list: mulato chiles, pasilla chiles, ancho chiles, vegetable oil, tomatillos, cloves, peppercorns, Mexican cinnamon stick, anise seeds, coriander seeds, sesame seeds, cloves, raisins, almonds, pumpkin seeds, tortillas, french rolls, chicken broth, Mexican chocolate.

And as if the list wasn’t lengthy enough…each chile must be deseeded, fried, soaked and then pureed, each type of seed must be toasted separately. The tortillas, rolls, almonds and raisins are each fried separately…and it goes on and on.

So where did I find all of these ingredients? The simple answer would have been to go to the Rainbow or Cub Foods on Lake St. in South Minneapolis. But instead, I used this shopping trip as an excuse to visit El Burrito Mercado in W. St. Paul. And, of course, even though I was there for mole ingredients, I had to try their famous Mexican food that they prepare in their deli. Wow – was it good! I had one chicken and one beef taco (both corn tortillas) topped with white onions, cilantro and lime, rice and beans. Absolutely fantastic – especially the beans. They were so creamy and smooth…practically melt in your mouth good! I can’t wait to take my dad there next time he visits!


So back to mole, I spent the afternoon making the mole and a few appetizers of beef and chorizo empanadas. I was almost finished, when I decided to taste the mole to check if I needed to adjust the seasoning. So I took a little taste…hmmm…just as I remembered it. Intense, complex, toasted, dark….a taste that I actually don’t really like. I couldn’t believe that after an entire afternoon of cooking, I was just remembering that of all the moles that I do enjoy, mole poblano is just not my favorite.

But that was okay by me. I loved the process of making the mole and am looking forward to making other mole recipes in the future. Maybe I’ll try the hazelnut mole recipe again that we made a few Christmas’s ago or perhaps a mole verde, since I love tomatillos so much. Perhaps. Regardless, the important part is that we all tried mole poblano and could mark it off the Omnivore’s 100 list of foods to eat before we die. What’s next? Who knows…Ed does keep talking about wanting to try lobster thermidor…

Before trying Buster’s on 28th for the first time last week, the name left me with an image of video games and cheap, rubbery food. I know, I know…that’s Dave and Buster’s that I was thinking of, but I still couldn’t help the thought. After going to Buster’s on 28th, however, I can guarantee that if it was located in my neighborhood, Buster’s on 28th would be my regular pub.

Located on 28th Ave. and 42nd St. in South Minneapolis, Buster’s has that comfy neighborhood feel that attracts all. We went there on a Friday night and was amazed at how crowded the place was at 7pm. With standing room only at the bar and in the crowded entryway, we patiently waited for a table. We knew that if it was this crowded, it would be worth the wait. As we surveyed the crowd, we were surprised to see many couples dining alone or with friends and with young babies in car seats. One guy told us that Buster’s is his 3 month old daughter’s favorite restaurant because it has a constant buzz that aids her in sleeping soundly through the visit. I think that was code for actually being the couple’s favorite restaurant, but regardless, that kid has it right…Buster’s has that great buzz that I love in a restaurant.

While waiting, we surveyed the extensive beer selection. Beers from around the world and with their own glassware (which I love!) made up the menu and with 29 taps and 109 bottles to choose from it took us awhile to figure out what to order. I decided to go Belgian and ordered the Kwak, partly because of the cool glassware and wooden holder it is served in and partly because the description said it has a “slightly sweet, seductive malt character.” One taste and I had to agree.



We were seated for dinner and quickly explored the menu. Although almost tempted into ordering the chorizo drunken mussels and the wild mushroom bruschetta for starters, we went for the fresh cut sea salt and vinegar chips instead. It turns out that this was the exact right order. The potato chips were amazing! The ultra thin slices of potato were fried to a deep golden brown and lightly seasoned with sea salt and vinegar. They were then perfectly paired with a subtle, creamy french onion dip. Although I am usually more of a french fry person, these chips were hands down the best fried potatoes I have eaten all year.

I won’t rave about my dinner, which was a roast beef panini with portobello mushrooms, poblanos, caramelized onions and Fontina on pumpernickel bread, but this is mostly because I didn’t think the bread worked with the sandwich. I thought the bread was good and the sandwich fillings were tasty, but the together they just didn’t work for me. Without the spark that the perfect filling paired with perfect bread can create…a sandwich is just a sandwich.

Despite this, I will definitely return to Buster’s on 28th. The buzz, the beer and the perfectly made potato chips will guarantee that.

Buster’s on 28th
4204 28th Ave.
Minneapolis, MN
612.729.0911

Whether you are there to sip a coffee and catch up with an old friend or just to curl up and read a book, Wilde Roast is a cozy spot for a chilly morning. From the moment you walk into Wilde Roast Cafe through the thick velvet curtains hung just inside the door in protection against the elements you are enveloped in warmth. You can feel the coziness in the Victorian inspired fixtures, the ornate fireplace, and especially in their “creative comfort food” menu.

I had been to Wilde Roast for dinner last winter and I recall from that visit that I stared at the menu for a long time before I could make my choice of one of many delicious-sounding items. I also recall the decadent flourless chocolate cake that we had for dessert. All I can say is “wow!”. I had not been back to Wilde Roast since that dinner visit, so I thought it would be perfect to check it out for breakfast last Friday to catch up with a friend.

As happened last time when I looked over the menu I just stared at my choices for several minutes. I couldn’t decide between the creme brulee french toast and the classic egg breakfast. It was up in the air and my friend even offered to split the two with me, but I ultimately gave in to my egg addiction and went for the classic egg breakfast (I mean, come on, it comes with three eggs…it was meant to be). I also ordered a piece of coffee cake and a large coffee to take the edge off my hunger as I waited. We paid at the counter, took our table number and sat down.

We immediately dug into the coffee cake, which was moist and sweet…the perfect accompaniment to the (very) large cup of coffee in front of me. But even with both of us eagerly working at it, we couldn’t finish the coffee cake and eventually had to give up on it when our breakfasts arrived. Both of our plates were fully loaded and they looked delicious. Grant’s ham and cheese omelet was perfectly made – fluffy and well seasoned. Definitely a great choice.


My breakfast, on the other hand, did not live up to my expectations. The eggs were a bit spongy tasting and the potatoes tasted “off”. Both of us tried them to figure out what it was that tasted “off”, but we just couldn’t figure it out. Maybe it was the type of oil…regardless, they weren’t my favorite. I don’t know if it was the coffee cake appetizer, the taste of it all or perhaps I found out the hard way that three eggs is a large amount of food, but it’s the first time in a very long time that I have left an entire egg uneaten on my breakfast plate.

My overall thought on breakfast is a tough call since my choice left me unsatisfied but the omelet and coffee cake were so good. While I don’t have a definite resolution on that, I do know I will definitely be back sometime soon to curl up by the fire with a good book, some coffee cake, and a huge cup of coffee.

Wilde Roast Cafe
518 Hennepin Ave. NE
Minneapolis, MN
612.331.4544

Growing up in central Illinois, I have been to Chicago many times. In fact, a couple years ago I traveled to Chicago for work every week for a year. I flew in, took the train to the Sears Tower, stayed at a hotel a couple blocks away, occasionally took a cab to one of the many unique neighborhoods for dinner and then flew home. I had seen and done many things in Chicago over the years but I hadn’t really opened my eyes to it for a really long time. With this in mind, on my recent Chicago visit my sister and I planned a whole day for taking a photo tour of Chicago. The day we chose was Tuesday…which ended up being a drizzly, overcast, cold day. It wasn’t ideal, but we set out anyway.


The same year that I was traveling back and forth I read a book by Erik Larson, “Devil in the White City.” If you haven’t heard of it, it is a book that follows the architect for the World’s Fair of 1893 as he planned and built the “white city” and a serial killer who was loose in Chicago at the same time. I found the history completely fascinating and it made me appreciate the architecture of the buildings that were created for World’s Fair, such as the Museum of Science and Industry, that still stand today. The train ride from Midway to the Sears Tower had a whole new meaning for me, but I still hadn’t visited any of the Fair’s buildings. So on our photo tour, an obvious choice to visit was the grounds of the Museum of Science and Industry and the Osaka Japanese Gardens which were built as part of the Wooded Island for the Fair.



After the Osaka Gardens we headed downtown to Grant Park and the Agora structure, which is 106 headless hollow structures that appear to be wandering about and to Millennium Park to view the “Cloud Gate” structure, or the “bean” as most people call it. I didn’t know the history of the “bean” before, but I am now so amazed by it. It is a seamless structure designed to showcase clouds floating among the Chicago skyline from every angle viewed and is also meant to be a gate by which visitors could pass under and view their reflection floating much the same as the clouds. Amazing.



Our intentions were to tour and photograph the whole day, but we found ourselves very cold and very hungry and after a couple hours sought warmth and nourishment at Penny’s Noodle Shop. Fresh ingredients put together to create subtlely spicey and flavorful food. Although it wasn’t the day we had planned, we had a great time and, of course, you can’t go wrong with a day that ends with Thai food.

To view more pictures from Chicago, click here.

My first thought was “coal fired…really?” But I was willing to go for it since it was a place I hadn’t tried and we were meeting some friends for dinner who had picked the place. These friends are Warehouse District lovers through and through and I don’t blame them. With markets, restaurants and coffee shops continuing to open, the Warehouse District has dramatically changed in the four years that I’ve lived downtown.

But back to pizza. Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza just recently opened on the October 20th on the 600 block of Washington Avenue. Walking in the building, you turn directly to right and then enter the restaurant down a short flight of stairs. My first impression was great. There were plenty of dark wood tables and booths in the two good sized eating spaces. The selection of tap beer looked plentiful (Surly on tap, for you Surly lovers) and the kitchen was bustling.

We sat down and studied the menu. There were appetizers (meatballs, roasted veggies and salads) in the $6-$7 range and two sizes of pizza (12″ or 16″). There is a short list of pizzas with pre-determined toppings and there is the option to choose your own toppings from an extensive list of ingredients (from Kalamata olives to fennel to clams). We decided to go with two salads, one large pizza and one small pizza for four people. This was a good size order, as I was definitely hungry. In the future for a light appetite for two, I might go with one salad and one 12″ pizza.

While we waited for our pizza I took in our surroundings. My initial impression remained in tact with the exception of one thing – the kitchen. It just lacked personality. It was just white and, well, blah. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t need a colorfully tiled pizza oven to do it for me but I would prefer not to look over and see a white drop-ceiling with a couple tiles punched up and the duct work showing (not artfully showing like you see in lofts). And unfortunately from the booths in the side room, you don’t get much of an impression of the kitchen except for the tops of the cooks’ heads and ceiling. On the plus side, it was definitely bustling and the food coming out of it looked great.

Back to the food…Our spinach salad with blue cheese arrived and we dug in. This was definitely a great salad – fresh spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, creamy blue cheese and good sized blue cheese crumbles. (The Kalamata olives in the picture are from our friends’ house salad…how can you not like olives?) We didn’t try the house salad, but it looked like Andy and Sarah enjoyed it as well.

Pizza was up next. Unfortunately there was some confusion with our order (first we got someone else’s order and then one of our pizzas was wrong), but we weren’t in a hurry, so it wasn’t really an issue to wait 7 minutes for the pizza to be remade. Our first pizza arrived and it looked good. This was a 12″ oyster mushroom, smoked mozzarella and rosemary pizza. I was very happy with this pizza, especially the fresh rosemary! The next pizza was a 16″ cheese and sausage pizza, again another good tasting pizza. We were very pleased.

So, you might be wondering about the crust, sauce and cheese – I know that’s what I like to hear about when I read about pizza. I’ll start with the crust. It’s crisp but chewy in the center with the slightest hint of a sweet, sourdough flavor – a flavor that is definitely alright by me. There is one choice of sauce, which is crushed tomatoes. Again, another great choice, although I would have liked to have had a slight bit more. The cheese? This was my least favorite. It tasted pretty good, but it managed to congeal a bit even though we ate the pizza quickly. I prefer the fresh, gooey mozzarella that stretches into a steaming string as you try to separate your slice from the rest of the pizza. But, overall Black Sheep’s pizza is nicely done and the bill for the four of us (because I know you’re curious) for two pizzas, two salads, two glasses of wine and two beers was $52 before tip – not too bad.

As we were leaving, Jordan (the owner) asked us if we’d like to see the oven. He took the time to explain why he chose coal, rather than wood, to fire the oven (it has to do with the consistency of heat and even cooking temperatures, rather than the taste it produces) and gave us a short history of coal-fired pizza ovens in New York. I love that he took the time for us, even as he and his cooks were juggling pizzas in and out of the oven.

Overall I enjoyed Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza. Pizza Nea is still #1 in my downtown pizza ranking, but Black Sheep has secured a solid #2 spot for me.

Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza
600 Washington Ave. N
Minneapolis, MN
612.342.2625

It’s been two days since the incident happened so I think this is enough recovery time for me to move on and write about it. They predicted it…I will give them that, and I should have been forewarned. So when I woke up to an overcast, brisk Sunday morning I should have known that, for once, their predictions would be correct. But I remained naive, oblivious to the warnings and set out without a second thought.

At first it wasn’t so bad. Just another chilly fall day at the end of the season when the golds, reds, greens and browns all mix together to form an interesting array of color on the ground and on the trees. I knew I wasn’t dressed perfectly for this time of year, but it was also kind of nice to jam my fists deep into the pockets of my down vest to find warmth. I shuffled along, the leaves making a “shoosh-shoosh-shoosh” sound as I moved through them.

I stopped along the way to take pictures of the trees, the leaves, the lake and a small mushroom that was camouflaged along the path I was walking. Of course, stopping made me colder and my hands could hardly move once they left the warm coccoon of my vest pockets. This I didn’t mind. But the further I walked, I started to feel the reality of the predictions…the knowledge that winter was just around the corner.

The corner, as it turned out to be, was the very last bend before I returned to my car. I put away my camera and sipped on my hot coffee while I waited for my friends to return from their run. And at that exact moment it happened. It snowed.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind the snow and I don’t mind winter. I actually love the coziness of the season…warming up next to the fire with warm soup or cocoa. The tragedy of this particular snowfall is that it was the most disappointing first snow ever. With the temperature hovering right around the freezing point, there was no chance of white fluffy flakes drifting to the ground and accumulating to create a winter wonderland. (Although Kyle did lie on the grass and pretend to make a snow angel, which did lighten the mood.) Instead, the flakes came down in a fury…a wet, slushy fury. Sigh.

Taste of Scandinavia
Perhaps it was the setting of the slushy snow that swayed my breakfast experience that morning as well. Since we were up near Vadnais Heights, we headed to Taste of Scandinavia, a small bakery and cafe in a strip mall in North Oaks. I have had several breakfasts there before and enjoyed them. But this time, unfortunately, was not fully the case. I would have to say that they were 50-50 for me and, based on this visit, I would return back only for their sweet breakfast items and baked goods.

Taste of Scandinavia is a cute little restaurant with a large glass display case along one wall with cakes, breads, and pastries that are sure to make your mouth water. We entered and immediately sampled their apple coffee cake that was offered to us. Wow! I was sold. I ordered the classic egg breakfast (of course with crispy bacon and eggs over medium) and a full piece of the apple coffee cake. Unfortunately, they told me that they were out of the coffee cake. Wait…they offer me a sample to entice me into buying it and then they tell me they’re out? Humpf. Odd, but okay. A little disappointed but we changed the pastry order to something with slivered almonds and almond paste (which was not nearly as good) and an order of the pulla french toast with lingonberries and green apples for Kyle.

Thankfully the coffee was very good and there were free, help-yourself refills…which were much needed on that gray, cold morning. (By this time the snow/slush was coming down almost sideways outside. Yuck.) Our order arrived quickly and we dug in. The down side is that I just don’t think eggs are their thing. Mine were browned and spongey and the poached eggs that Carly got had hard yolks (that is how she likes them, but that’s not how she ordered them). The bacon wasn’t crisp, the hash browns were oily tasting and the toast was just, eh.

Kyle’s breakfast, however, looked and tasted spectacular. It was a huge order of french toast, loaded with lingonberries, caramelized green apples, whipped cream, powdered sugar and a few chocolate shavings. I had a little taste at first and then finished his breakfast for dessert. The yogurt, fruit and homemade granola that was ordered also looked fantastic. It was polished off quickly so that speaks volumes.

All in all, I will return to Taste of Scandinavia but I will stick to their coffee cake (when they have it) and their sweet breakfast items like the french toast or yogurt and granola. And as for the weather? It’s a beautifully sunny day out the window right now, but winter is lurking. And while I know this is a naive thought, I’m hoping the next snowfall fulfills my more romantic ideals of winter.

Taste of Scandinavia
845 Village Center Drive
North Oaks, MN
651.482.8285

After making a date to grab lunch with a friend who works in St. Paul, I did some research to get some options. I could have picked one of my usual favorites in St. Paul, but I wanted to try someplace new and I was very pleased to find several great options. After deliberating, the one that had my attention was the Barbary Fig.

Unlike many businesses on Grand Avenue, the Barbary Fig is nestled in a two-story house with a large patio out front. As it was cold out, however, we forewent eating outside and instead were led upstairs to the dining room where we sat in a table by the window. The first thing I noticed was the crowd, or lack thereof. This was my first visit, so I’m not sure if it does not usually gather much of a lunch crowd, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. Looking on the bright side, however, it ensured excellent service.

We settled into our table and took in the surroundings. The tables and chairs are all very dark wood and are contrasted beautifully by the colorful walls, ceiling and napkins. But wait, I don’t mean colorful in a generic way…colorful to the Barbary Fig means that the walls and ceiling are painted in bright yellows and oranges and that the napkins are the most brilliant shade of purple you can imagine. But somehow this does not seem overdone and the effect puts an instant smile on your face.

Barbary Fig’s lunch menu is small, but has wonderful flavor combinations that reflect its Moroccan roots. I immediately decided what I wanted to order and then promptly changed my mind once I heard the special. Tender chicken stewed in a custard sauce with tumeric and cinnamon, wrapped in flaky phyllo and topped with sauteed bell peppers and zucchini and a pear, apricot and fig chutney. I had to have it. And when it arrived, I savored each crunchy, sweet and cinnamony bite.

My friend’s order, which was on the lunch menu, was also flavorful and delicious. It was a combination of sausage, egg, and peppers that resembled a breakfast scramble (and you know how much I love a good breakfast scramble). Let’s just say that we did not leave a bit of food on our plates.

Overall I really enjoyed the Barbary Fig and look forward to returning sometime to try out their dinner menu and the patio. Although it did lack a lunch crowd, the service and the food were fantastic. In the midst of the bustle of Grand Avenue, the Barbary Fig is a colorful retreat for the senses.

Barbary Fig
720 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN
651.290.2085

Last Saturday night after seeing “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” at the Grandview Theater in St. Paul, Kyle and I were hungry. Just down on Grand Avenue a short distance was Khyber Pass Cafe, a perfect place for a late night dinner. I really had no expectations for Khyber Pass, as I had never had Afghani food, but I was looking forward to it.

Walking in, I was instantly impressed with the crowd. It was about 9:00 on a Saturday night and most of the tables were filled (always a good sign). We waited just a few minutes and then were shown to a table in the larger dining area. I sat and then looked around to take it all in. Khyber Pass’s decor has a very traditional, yet at the same time, contemporary feeling. Painted a creamy white, the walls are adorned beautifully with a row of colorful photographs from Afghanistan near the tables and another row of abstract, colorful paintings further up near the ceiling (unfortunately my picture doesn’t capture this well). Hanging from the ceiling and the back wall are traditional woven rugs and women’s dresses. The decoration is subtle, yet distinct, and it creates a wonderful sense of balance.


I was settled in and ready to explore the menu. We were wanting a light meal, so we decided to go for the cilantro chutney and then the vegetarian combination plate of eggplant, lentils and potatoes to share. The cilantro chutney arrived quickly and was tangy and delicious. Soon after we received our vegetarian plate and I was pleasantly surprised that it was served with a tomato, onion and cucumber salad. I had expected some spiciness to the food, but found that this was not the case at all. Instead, the flavors were mellow but rich. This subtlety in flavors paired with the zippy tomato, onion and cucumber salad was really quite good. Overall I really enjoyed Khyber Pass and I look forward to another visit.

Oh, and by the way, “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist” is a fantastic movie. It’s short, funny and has a great soundtrack (obviously). Thank you to my friend Jeff at The Scorecard Review for talking us out of our previous movie choice!

Kyber Pass Cafe
1571 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN
651.690.0505

I headed to St. Paul on Saturday afternoon to get some Nookie…(get your mind out of the gutter, I was after a burger from The Nook). Unfortunately, The Nook was extremely busy so we decided to go a few miles away to the Shamrock Grill on West 7th, where they have The Nook burgers on their menu. It wasn’t my first choice, but I was willing to try it out.

In contrast to The Nook, which is a small, cozy bar, the Shamrock Grill is a large space with both bar and high-top seating, as well as several booths and other tables in the main dining area. Although it was also busy (we were there during the Gopher game), there was immediate seating for us in the dining area. With only a glance at the menu, we put in our order…cheese curds, two Juicy Lucys and two diet cokes. If you’re not familiar with the Juicy Lucy, it is a cheeseburger but with the cheese inside the burger. This ensures that the cheese is still hot and melted when it arrives at your table. But be warned, while melted cheese is always a good thing, you do have to be careful not to burn yourself on it. For more on Juicy Lucy’s and a map of where to find them in the Twin Cities click here.

Back to the Shamrock – I had high expectations for this meal, as The Nook’s Juicy Lucy is my favorite in town. Note: I haven’t tried all the Juicy Lucy’s out there, but it’s my favorite of those I have tried. Our Lucys arrived and I was a little surprised, to be honest. Although it’s controversial, I think the bun is a crucial part of the burger experience. So it was a bit concerning to me that the Shamrock’s bun was not as soft as The Nook’s bun. Despite this difference, however, the burger and cheese were the same and they were oh, so good…so I couldn’t really complain. Overall, it was a good experience, and if they would switch up their bun, the Shamrock Grill would be a major contender in the realm of Juicy Lucys.

Shamrock Grill
995 7th St. W.
St. Paul, MN
651.228.9925