The Tour Twin Cities

There were a lot of things to like about The Depot, First Avenue’s new restaurant. They have a good beer selection, apparently their burger is really good, and the atmosphere was pretty rock solid for a preshow meal. But the Mac and Cheese just was not that good.

It was a baked Mac N Cheese, almost casserole like. The problem was it came out looking pretty good, but upon trying to cut it with a fork it was obvious it had been sitting around waiting to be warmed up for quite some time. The bottom was very crisp, the top was chewy, the noodles seemed overcooked, and the cheese just didn’t have enough flavor. Not only that but there wasn’t enough cheese. There was a cheese sauce underneath and on top of the slab of macaroni, but even with that it was kind of dry.

Now it wasn’t all bad, even if it sounds like it. I’m willing to admit that another visit might yield a completely different result. The sauce that was there was good, and the paprika that garnished the dish was a good addition. Overall though I can’t recommend the Mac and Cheese at The Depot.

I never would have guessed that the Tour would end up reviewing anything other than hot dogs or maybe nachos at a sports venue. I was wrong though. With the opening of Target Field, stadium food in Minneapolis has changed for the better. The Tony Olivia’s Cuban is a perfect example of why Target Field is a fantastic place to watch a game.

Though not nearly as good as the Cuban at the Muddy Pig, the Cuban at Target field was still dang tasty. A perfect mix of pulled pork, ham, and turkey, top with cheese and pickles. Nothing fancy or exceptional, but definitely good. If you happen to make it to a Twins game and are craving something a little bit different, I would make it a stop on your walk through the concourse.

Of course part of my enjoyment could have come from my instant love for Target Field. Who knows what I would have thought if I would have ordered it at a bar down the street.

Easter Sunday seemed like a perfect time to try out Spoonriver. It was a stop we had been planning on trying for quite some time and it didn’t dissapoint. From the mimosas served with a couple skewered blackberries (a perfect compliment to the spring weather), to the perfectly cooked poached eggs, Spoonriver was an all around great brunch.

I ordered one of their quiches of the day. It was a butternut squash quiche with mushrooms, spinach, and carmelized onions. I had a hard time deciding between that and something on their daily menu but I think I made the right call. The eggs and the squash were blended together which gave the quiche a really delicious texture. Everything went together really well, and alongside the greens it was almost the perfect brunch. I also tried a bit of their poached egg dish, and the hashbrowns, toast, and eggs were fantastic. I would go back just for the simple yet perfectly balanced taste of that dish.