smbc :: twenty-one :: meritage

et lost her notes, so this could be interesting...

what did we have
et :: nothing. a scone (not by choice). potatoes (not ordered). under-cooked eggs florentine en cocotte.
ek :: corned beef hash
rm :: smoked salmon blini + eggs benedict
st :: scone (by choice)
sa :: eggs benedict
sr :: mimosa + toasted brie
md (guest) :: fresh maine lobster omelet

ratings (out of ten)
food :: 5
atmosphere :: 9
service :: 2
price point/value :: 5
quality of coffee :: 7
seating :: 7
overall :: 5 (affected greatly by the poor service and food mishaps)

shining star :: smoked salmon blini.
pros :: lobster (it comes from maine and it is fresh!). atmosphere. we were inside a snow globe.
cons :: see et's 'what did we have'
memories :: idyllic winter scene.

url :: meritage-stpaul.com

photo credit :: et

smbc will be on break for the holidays. cheers!

smbc :: twenty :: cecil's

what did we have
not recorded. photos will have to do.

ratings (out of ten)
overall :: 5 for breakfast orders. 8 for those who ordered lunch.

memories :: little lk's hat; put her down for a bottle of milk
shining star :: st's leftovers

url :: www.cecilsdeli.com

photo credit :: ja

smbc :: nineteen :: shish

ratings (out of ten)
coffee :: 10
price point :: 10
service :: 7
overall :: 8

cons :: loud in the back room while the Jeffersonian Society is meeting at table next to you
shining star :: pine nuts in sa's omelette; proximity to ace hardware; ability to make jokes that go yada yada yada, shish!

url :: shishcafe.net

photo credit :: none. slackers.

smbc :: eighteen :: the strip club

what did we have
et lost the notes. oops.

ratings (out of ten)
see above. ratings will possibly be filled in at a later date. pretty sure that we gave it a 7 or 8. it was tasty. server was solid. fries were a nice-to-have, but not necessary.

shining star :: the bread. the meat (see url).
pros :: spicy bloody mary. witty server.
cons :: small plates for large portions.
memories :: ketchup lap. ja and his paper towel dispenser impression.

url :: www.domeats.com

photo credit :: ja

smbc :: seventeen :: keys café

what did we have
sr ::  special – homemade biscuits with sausage gravy and 2 eggs
ja ::  #3 – two eggs, two pancakes, sausage
st ::  breakfast sandwich
sa ::  eggs benedict
rm :: #4 – two eggs, bacon, toast

ratings (out of ten)
food ::  5
atmosphere ::  6
service :: 7
coffee :: 5
price point :: 5
seating :: 8
overall :: 5

pros :: classic breakfast spot, great chairs
cons :: cold and average food...including a "meat lump"
memories :: mystery placenta topping
shining star :: waitress' tattoos

url :: www.keyscafe.com
photo credit :: ja

smbc :: sixteen :: gigi's café + patisserie 46

what did we have
ja :: breakfast burrito + coffee
sa :: asiago scramble + bacon + coffee
lk :: primavera hash + coffee
sr :: half primavera hash + half breakfast strudel + coffee
et :: half primavera hash + half breakfast strudel + coffee
ek, st, rm :: road trippin'

ratings (out of ten)
food :: six and a half
atmosphere :: seven
service :: seven (kind of nonexistent, but not bad)
price point/value :: six and a half
quality of coffee :: seven
seating :: seven
overall :: seven

shining star :: outrageous brownie sample
pros :: big windows; wall paint; good neighborhood spot
cons :: limited menu - only had scrambles & hashes, it needed a good classic breakfast option
memories :: part ii*

url :: http://gigisuptown.com 

*part ii :: patisserie 46

all :: amazing, delightfully delicious baked goods

memories :: little boy worried that sa was going to steal his bike
shining star :: almond chocolate croissant

url :: http://www.patisserie46.com

photo credit :: ja

smbc :: fifteen :: barbette

what did we have
ek :: macadamia nut pancakes with rum roasted bananas & whipped maple cream
rm :: eggs florentine + coffee
st :: grand marnier french toast
sr :: fresh fruit salad + coffee
sa :: eggs benedict
et, ja, lk :: elsewhere

ratings (out of ten)
food :: six
atmosphere :: nine (oh the sun, fall colors and fake flowers!)
service :: eight
price point/value :: seven
quality of coffee :: seven and a half
seating :: eight
overall :: eight

shining star :: our waiter; proximity to the lakes for after-breakfast walks
pros :: tasty treats in the heart of a thriving, exuberant neighborhood filled with the youth of minneapolis in their full glory
cons :: inconsistent food prep
memories :: everyone paid in cash; waiter trying on st's glasses; look on ek's face when sr almost gave away his story of the uptown marquee

url :: http://www.barbette.com/

photo credit :: sa

smbc :: fourteen :: red stag supperclub

what did we have
lk :: veggie eggs benedict – biscuit, fresh tomato, spinach, herb hollandaise, poached eggs, hashbrowns + coffee
st :: veggie eggs benedict – biscuit, fresh tomato, spinach, herb hollandaise, poached eggs, hashbrowns
sr :: veggie eggs benedict – biscuit, fresh tomato, spinach, herb hollandaise, poached eggs, hashbrowns + coffee
ek :: monte cristo – brioche french toast, smoked turkey, swiss, cranberry
ja :: chicken fried steak – two eggs, hashbrowns, toast, mustard, leek gravy + coffee
et :: veggie hash – two eggs, roasted squash, mushrooms, kale, hashbrowns & toast + coffee
rm :: mushroom, ricotta & rosemary scramble with hashbrowns & toast + coffee
all :: coffee cake (complimentary)
sa :: hater

ratings (out of ten)
food :: eight
atmosphere :: eight
service :: eight
price point/value :: five
quality of coffee :: eight
seating :: nine (chairs were unique; good sized table)
overall :: eight

shining star :: chicken friend steak
pros :: ambiance; good menu selection; water choices (bubbly or still?); locally sourced ingredients
cons :: dirty dishes; music
memories :: motion to move to saturdays by ja. motion passed.

url :: http://www.redstagsupperclub.com

photo credit :: ja (whew!)

smbc :: thirteen :: finnish cafe

what did we have
st :: veggie omelette + coffee
rm :: pulla french toast + coffee
sr :: classic breakfast + coffee
et :: lefse scramble + coffee
all :: almond cringle
ja, lk, ek, sa :: anywhere but here

ratings (out of ten)
food :: seven
atmosphere :: seven
service :: nine
price point (value) :: seven
quality of coffee :: six
seating (new category) :: three
overall :: seven

shining stars :: bread; lefse; almond cringle
pros :: great neighborhood; friendly service; plentiful portions; paying at the front
cons :: omelette; fruit selection
memories :: first time smbc ventured to st. paul



url :: http://www.finnishbistro.com

photo credit :: et (teeny, tiny; taken via phone)

smbc :: twelve :: victor's 1959 café

what did we have
ek :: cuban hash
et :: half eggs havana with yuca frita & tortillas + half mango pancake + coffee
st :: half eggs havana with yuca frita & tortillas + half mango pancake
rm :: cuban hash + coffee
ja :: bistec criollo with yuca frita & rice + coffee
lk :: eggs havana with yuca frita & toast + coffee
sr :: grand avenute #1 + coffee
sa :: bistec criollo with yuca frita + coffee
all :: wild rice pancake + corn pancake

ratings (out of ten)
food :: seven
atmosphere :: eight
service :: nine
price point/value :: nine
quality of coffee :: nine
overall :: eight

shining star :: corn pancake
pros :: atmosphere; music; coffee refills; yuca frita
cons :: sloppy joes for breakfast (in reference to the cuban hash); hard for large groups


memories :: we all made it!

url :: http://www.victors1959cafe.com

photo credit :: ja

smbc :: eleven :: kings wine bar

 

what did we have

ek ::  french toast – sauteed apple, maple syrup and whipped cream
st ::  breakfast sandwich – crisp bacon, fried egg, gruyere, aioli & house mustard + hash browns
rm :: eggs benedict with grilled artic char + hash browns + coffee
et :: omelette – gruyere, spinach, mushroom & red pepper + toast + coffee
ja, lk, sr, sa :: somewhere else

ratings (out of ten)
food :: six
atmosphere :: nine
service :: five  – slow, but friendly
price point (value) :: six
quality of coffee :: seven
overall :: seven

shining star :: bread  – we all had some form of bread product & enjoyed it immensely
pros :: atmosphere; neighborhood; server looks like and reminded us of zach galifianakis
cons :: omelette; waitstaff was slow (funny & friendly, but slow); no salt & pepper; no paper towels in bathroom; slow on coffee refills

url :: http://kingswinebar.com/

photo credit :: et

smbc :: ten :: the sones'

the sones (aka :: sr) set a standard never to be reached by another smbc-er. she was an amazing chef and hostess.

(slow clap) sones. sones. sones. sones. sones.