Best Restaurants
Taste Test
By Steve Lange and Megan Malugani
Whistle Binkies
3120 Wellner Dr. NE, 289-9200
247 Woodlake Dr. SE, 424-1227
www.whistlebinkiespub.com
Sure, popping 400 pounds of kernels per week (between the two locations) guarantees guests the fresh popcorn, but the real draw is the butter-flavored oil (which costs more than the popcorn itself).
The runner-up: Beetle’s.
Honorable mention: Newt’s.
Best Bar Food
Whistle Binkies
3120 Wellner Dr. NE, 289-9200
247 Woodlake Dr. SE, 424-1227
www.whistlebinkiespub.com
The triumvirate of top-sellers alone is classic (and it doesn’t even include the Scotch Eggs): the Fish ‘N Chips, the Reuben, and the Hot Turkey Sandwich.
The runner-up: Newt’s.
Honorable mention: Brothers, Glynner's, Beetle’s, McGoon’s.
The strangest answer we received: “Rice Krispie Bars.”
Best Place for a Fine Glass of Wine
Söntés
4 Third St. SW, 292-1628
www.sontes.com
Forty wines by the glass plus 100 by the bottle plus a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence equals Söntés’ second Wine win in a row from Rochester Magazine.
The runner-up: Prescotts.
Honorable mention: Victoria’s, Pescara.
The strangest answer we received: “Whoever sells Mad Dog 20/20.”
Best Breakfast Place
Canadian Honker
1203 Second St. SW, 282-6572
www.canadianhonker.com
The morning shift crew is in at 5:30 a.m. making the egg-and-butter-based hollandaise sauce for the Eggs Benedict (sliced ham and two poached eggs over an English muffin or croissant), and, though we’ve tried every interviewing technique we know over the years, we still can’t get Joe Powers to divulge the recipe for the sauce or, for that matter, Bunny’s Coconut Cake.
The runner-up: Perkins.
Honorable mention: Cheap Charlie’s.
Best Burger Place
Newt’s
216-1/2 First Ave SW, 289-0577
www.cccrmg.com
Here’s all that needs to be said: Newt’s has won our “Best Burger” title for seven straight years.
The runner-up: Whistle Binkies.
Honorable mention: McGoon’s, Brothers, Roscoe’s.
Best Nachos
Newt’s
216-1/2 First Ave SW, 289-0577
www.cccrmg.com
Homemade chips topped with cheddar and pepper cheese, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, black olives—all baked together and served with sides of homemade taco sauce, sour cream, and jalapeno peppers.
The runner-up: Glynner's.
Honorable mention: Dos Amigos, Whistle Binkies, Applebee’s.
The strangest answer we received: “Nacho Libre.”
Best Hangout for Happy Hour
Whistle Binkies
3120 Wellner Dr. NE, 289-9200
247 Woodlake Dr. SE, 424-1227
www.whistlebinkiespub.com
Sundays: Rusty Trucks for two bucks plus a $3 Bloody Mary Bar; Mystery Mondays: pay $2 for whatever random beer you draw from a hat; Tropical Tuesdays: Coronas and margaritas for $2; ... and on and on.
The runner-up: Chester's.
Honorable mention: Beer Bellyz, McGoon’s, Glynner's.
The strangest answer we received: “Strip clubs always have the best happy hours.”
Best Barbecue Joint
John Hardy's
1940 Broadway South, 281-1727
929 West Frontage Road NW, 288-3936
Cedarwood Plaza, 424-3100
www.johnhardysbbq.com
Not much, thankfully, has changed since 1972, when John Hardy Jr. opened his Southern Bar-B-Q restaurant on Third Avenue Southeast: Today’s three locations still smoke the meat over cherry and apple wood and still use those made-from-scratch recipes Hardy perfected while barbecuing as a sideline to his foundry job.
The runner-up: Roscoe’s.
Honorable mention: Famous Dave’s. These three restaurants are always within a few percent of each other in every year’s voting.
The strangest answer we received: “Something created by Cheech and Chong and then cooked by John Hardy.”
Best Cup Of Joe
Dunn Brothers
120 Elton Hills Dr. NW, 285-4991
1340 Salem Rd. SW, 424-3086
www.dunnbros.com
Nationally, the Twin Cities-based chain is nearing its 100th location and has moved into the top ten largest coffeehouse chains; locally, the store has coffee fresh-roasted in the store, a laid-back atmosphere with a fireplace and comfy couches, and owner Lynn Wong, who always remembers our name when we’re in there.
The runner-up: Caribou.
Honorable mention: This one’s always a close category, with Java Detour and Starbucks thrown in as well.
The strangest answer we received: “Joe Powers.”
Best Sandwich Place
City Market
212 First Ave SW, 536-4748
www.cccrmg.com
We’ve said it plenty of times before: It’s a place where no sandwich detail goes overlooked, from the fresh-baked breads (like Ciabatta, foccacia, and roasted garlic) to the homemade sauces (like pesto mayo, cranberry cream cheese, and horseradish mayo) to the six ounces of meat on every sandwich, and City Market now offers made-to-order salads (served with that classic Broadstreet French bread baked fresh daily).
The runner-up: Panera.
Honorable mention: Nelson Cheese makes a strong run every year.
The strangest answer we received: “The Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands.”
Best Italian Dish
Mechi’s Chicken at Victoria's
7 First Ave. SW, 280-6232
www.victoriasmn.com
We’ll just add on to one of the previous Best Italian wins for Victoria’s: One classic interior, two hundred-plus menu items, three o’clock dinner service, four-time winner of the Gourmet Diner’s Society of North America’s "Golden Fork" award for best Italian food, five private theme rooms, six-thousand-plus square feet, seven days a week, eight classic desserts, nine gluten-free entrees, ten p.m. closing time, eleven straight years as Rochester Magazine’s Best Italian Food (or Dish).
The runner-up: Tour of Italy at Olive Garden.
Honorable mention: Lots of close ones here: Victoria’s Chicken Primavera (which won last year), Penne Pasta at Prescotts, Penne Rubosto at City Café.
The strangest answer(s) we received: ”Isabella Rossellini.” “Sophia Lauren.” “Fabio.” “That Italian president’s wife” (we assume they mean former model Carla Bruni, wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy).
Best Asian Restaurant
Hunan Garden
1120 Seventh St. NW
Northgate Shopping Center, 285-1438
It’s a winning combo: longevity (the restaurant was opened in 1985) plus variety (Hunan Garden’s 125-plus dishes highlight China’s four cuisine regions) plus freshness (orders are cooked on demand using fresh veggies).
The runner-up: China Star.
Honorable mention: Sushi Itto, India Garden, India Curry House, Jenpachi, Pho Tai, Hu Hot Mongolian Grill.
Best Ethnic Restaurant
India Curry House
1647 South Broadway, 288-5001
In late 2007, India Curry House got a new name (it was formerly Cuisine of India), a new location (moving from the old Hardee’s to the old Perkins), a new menu (they cut out the Greek food), and, apparently, new life—they also opened an express version of the restaurant in the downtown skyway in 2008.
The runner-up: India Garden (this voting was as close as it gets, with India Curry House winning by less than a few percent).
Honorable mention: Nupa, Zorba’s, Tony’s Vietnamese Cafe.
Coolest Vibe
300 First
300 First Ave NW, first floor, 281-2451
www.cccrmg.com
OK, we thought Redwood Room has a cool vibe—and it does—but 300 First has taken it to a whole new level (literally, a level above the Redwood Room) with everything from overstuffed sofas in front of a full-on fireplace to the granite bar holding Smokin’ Martinis to the ... oh, hell, you just have to see it for yourself.
The runner-up: Chester's.
Honorable mention: Söntés, Twigs, Pescara.
The strangest answer we received: “The one with Eminem on the cover.” (It took us a long time to realize they were referring to Vibe magazine.)
Best Place To Eat, Drink, And Watch The Big Game
Buffalo Wild Wings
3458 55th St. NW, 536-0717
www.buffalowildwings.com
Nothing much has changed since B-Dubs (as the regulars call it) won this category last year: With seating for just under 200 and 30-plus TVs (including a dozen big and/or HD flat screens), you can watch your choice of teams year-round, with a side of wings with 14 signature sauces.
The runner-up: Whistle Binkies
Honorable mention: McMurphy’s, Gorilla's.
Best Cheap Eats
Cheap Charlie’s
11 Fifth St. NW, 289-7693
The story—and the restaurant—hasn’t changed much in the ten years that Cheap Charlie’s has been taking the title (on and off with Grandma’s Kitchen) for Best Cheap Eats: What started as the 14-stool Ideal Cafe in 1955 has kept the same no-frills feel for the past 55 years, even after it was purchased by Cheap Charlie’s dishwasher-turned-owner David Tran a dozen years ago.
The runner-up: Grandma’s Kitchen.
The strangest answer we received: “Free samples at Hy-Vee."
Best Salad
Mediterranean Salad at Victoria's
7 First Ave. SW, 280-6232
www.victoriasmn.com
Grilled chicken, oranges (Mandarin and naval), sun-dried cherries, apples, mangos, pecans, and almonds over romaine and mixed lettuce served inside Rochester’s Best Italian Restaurant (or you can get it right from Victoria’s Express).
The runner-up: Raspberry Chicken Salad at Chester’s.
Honorable mention: Chopped Amish Bleu Cheese at 300 First, Chicken Oriental at Michaels, Spinach Salad at McGoon’s, Pear and Walnut Salad at Prescotts.
Best Pizza Place
Mr. Pizza North
4040 28th St. NW, 252-9400
www.northmrpizza.com
With five different crusts (original thin, whole wheat thin, double-dough, deep-dish pan style, and gluten-free) and five different bases (traditional Red Pizza Sauce, Olive Oil, BBQ, Alfredo, and Pesto), Mr. Pizza North offers something for everyone.
The runners-up (tie): zpizza and Bilotti’s.
Honorable mention: Mr. Pizza South, O’Neill’s, Pi Pizza.
The strangest answer we received: “Italy."
Best First-Date Place
The Redwood Room
300 First Ave. NW, 281-2976
www.cccrmg.com
We changed the category name yet again—it’s also been Most Romantic and Best Ambience—but its subtle live jazz and dark wood wainscoting and single malt scotch has once again made The Redwood Room the place to ask things like “So, where do you see yourself in five years?”
The runner-up: Twigs.
Honorable mention: Chester’s, Söntés.
The strangest answer we received: “The backseat of my car" and "I have been unable to get a date in three years now."
Best Chocolately Chocolate Dessert
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake at Chester's
111 South Broadway, 424-1211
www.chesterskb.com
Moist cake layers with cocoa cream frosting, served with vanilla bean ice cream and Callebaut chocolate sauce—a chocolate sauce that’s been a staple for professional chocolatiers for nearly 100 years.
The runner-up: Death by Chocolate at Prescotts.
Honorable mention: Flourless Chocolate Cake at Pescara, Chocolate Bread Pudding at 300 First, Chocolate Cobbler at McGoon’s.
Best Margarita
Dos Amigos
20 Fourth Street SE, 282-3300
1611 North Highway 52, 536-4527
www.dosamigosminnesota.com
Maybe it’s the salted rims, or the not-too-sour blend, or the fact that—during summer days and nights at the Fourth Street location—you can sit on the wrought iron-railed deck of the 109-year-old restored train depot.
The runner-up: Fiesta Cafe.
The strangest answer we received: “Princess Margarita of Romania. "
Best Vegetarian Meal
Butternut Squash Ravioli at Twigs
401 Sixth St. SW, 288-0206
www.twigstavernandgrille.com
A carryover from Twigs' predecessor restaurant, the Shady Hill Grille, the squash-stuffed ravioli is served in a creamy sundried tomato garlic cream sauce and topped with parmesan cheese and .... oooohhhh, that sounds good right now.
The runners-up (tie): Korma at India Curry House and Portabello Sandwich at McGoon’s.
Honorable mention: Vegetable Samosa at India Garden, Deluxe Garden Burger at Roscoe’s, Oat Pecan Burger at Backroom Deli.
The strangest answer we received: “Vegetarians should be eaten."
Best Place To Eat Outdoors
Whistle Binkies on the Lake
247 Woodlake Dr. SE, 424-1227
www.whistlebinkiespub.com
With almost 200 seats (roughly the same number as inside) and a view of Wood Lake and sand volleyball games (by day) and a fire pit by night, the patio—which includes umbrellas for shade and a large, heated tent with retractable walls—is still one of Rochester’s best outdoor hotspots (as long as it’s hot).
The runner-up: Twigs.
Honorable mention: Dos Amigos, City Café, Chester’s.
The strangest answer we received: “On the roof of the Civic Center parking ramp.”
Best Chili (non-chain)
Chili Verde at Whistle Binkies
3120 Wellner Dr. NE, 289-9200
247 Woodlake Dr. SE, 424-1227
www.whistlebinkiespub.com
Although Kitchen Manager Pedro Leberon describes his Chili Verde as more of a stew than a chili, the diced pork dish (cooked in tomatillo sauce with roasted jalapenos and served with rice and beans) is popular even with its select offerings—it’s only on the menu sporadically.
The runner-up: White Bean Chili at Chester's.
Honorable mention: Grandma’s Kitchen, McGoon’s, PappaGeorge Tavern.
The strangest answer we received: “Chili Davis.”
Best Side Dish
Au Gratin Potatoes at Michaels
15 South Broadway, 288-2020
www.michaelsfinedining.com
Just as popular with fish meals as steak meals, the Au Gratin Potatoes at Michaels come down to the high end suppliers used by the restaurant and the “quality of cheese we put in the potato,” according to maitre d’ Matthew Joyce, who also notes their “own seasoning blend,” but that’s as much recipe info as he’d give up.
The runner-up: Homemade Chips at McGoon's.
Honorable mention: Creamed Corn at 300 First, Garlic Mashed Potatoes at The Redwood Room, Baked Beans at Roscoe’s.
The strangest answer we received: “I order the Victoria's Filet at Outback as the side dish to my order of the Outback Special.”
Best Service
Michaels
15 South Broadway, 288-2020
www.michaelsfinedining.com
The restaurant made a slight update to their uniform a few years back—just a subtle change in the classic black pants or skirt and white top and black collar—but the laser-like focus on service hasn’t changed at all in the restaurant’s nearly 60 years of, well, service.
The runner-up: Prescotts.
Honorable mention: A lot of voting in this category, and a lot of restaurants that were right up there: City Café, Söntés, Twigs, Pescara, Victoria’s.
Best Steak Dinner
Filet Mignon at Michael's
15 South Broadway, 288-2020
www.michaelsfinedining.com
Michaels’ 10-ounce filet, aged and hand-cut in their on-site butcher shop, is seared under a thin, crisp, lightly-seasoned crust., and that hasn’t changed a bit, thankfully, since anyone there can remember.
The runner-up: Filet Mignon at Chester's.
Honorable mention: New York Strip at 300 First, Outback Special at Outback, London Broil at Prescotts, Ribeye at Whiskey Creek.
Best Seafood Dish
Fish Tacos at Pescara
150 South Broadway, 280-6900
www.pescarafresh.com
With three types of fish in their Fish Tacos—the prime extras cut from the day’s flown-in fresh filets—the dish (with crunchy slaw, avocado cream, and lime vinaigrette served with a side of dirty rice), has moved to the top of our readers’ favorites less than a year after the restaurant’s opening.
The runner-up: Grouper at City Café.
Honorable mention: Lobster Lovers’ Dream at Red Lobster, Parmesan Walleye at Canadian Honker, Scallops at Redwood Room, Stuffed Prawns at Prescotts.
The strangest answer we received: “Daryl Hannah in that mermaid movie.”
Best Place to Eat with Kids
Gorilla’s Sports Bar
2775 43rd St. NW, 282-2180
We’ve been a big fan of Gorilla’s ever since they scrapped the Golden Corral, or at least ever since they added the new, state-of-the-art arcade—the best one in Rochester—with solid bar food (check out the bucket of Sliders) and the kinds of games that appeal to both kids and adults in a sports bar atmosphere.
The runner-up: O’Neill's.
Honorable mention: McDonald’s Playland, Mr. Pizza North, Mr. Pizza South, Buffalo Wild Wings, Old Country Buffet.
The strangest answer(s) we received: “Nowhere.” “Anywhere I’m not.” “Please, leave your kids at home!”
Outside Of Rochester, Best Restaurant Within An Hour
Hubbell House
502 N. Main St., Mantorville, 507-635-2331
www.hubbellhouserestaurant.com
Set in an old (1856) hotel and saloon, the Hubbell House has been serving can’t-miss meals—especially the filet mignon and the legendary two-pound T-bone—in an elegant Victorian setting for nearly 65 years.
The runner-up: Fisherman's Inn.
Honorable mention: Harbor View (Lake Pepin), Nosh (Lake City), Norton's (Red Wing).
The strangest answer we received: “Manny’s Steak House. It’s in Minneapolis, but I can make the 80 miles from my house in just under an hour.”
The One Restaurant Rochester Needs Immediately
Chili's
The runner-up: Hooters.
Honorable mention: Ruby Tuesday, Chuck E. Cheese, Sonic, IHOP, Granite City Grill, Cheesecake Factory.
The strangest answer we received: “A combination Chuck E. Cheese and Hooters.”