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  Lunch Restaurants

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1. The News Room

990 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · 612-343-0073

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

DOWNTOWN. Style steals the show at The News Room, where the spacious patio overlooks Nicollet Mall and the kitchen serves up "three squares" every day. The space plays up the newsy theme, and the walls in each room are decorated with covers and clips devoted to different sections from the newspaper. Also newsworthy are the loos, which have prison-issue toilets and one-way mirrors behind the sinks. As for the eats, the lunch menu caters to just about any type or size of appetite, from salads topped with pecan-crusted tilapia, to Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, to full-on feasts of Southern-fried chicken and garlic mashed potatoes smothered in country gravy.

2. Broders' Cucina Italiana

2308 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410 · 612-925-3113

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

SOUTHWEST MINNEAPOLIS. This cozy Italian deli has a few seats in the dining room, but most folks grab a panini or slice of pizza to take back to the office. Other lunch choices include hot dishes like spinach lasagna, manicotti, and an ever-changing daily pasta special. Those eating light can try the arugula salad with asiago cheese and orange-balsamic vinaigrette, or a house salad with pistachios and champagne dressing. Later in the day, the cucina does a brisk dinner business; Broders' Pasta Bar across the street also serves evening eats.

3. Palomino Euro Bistro

825 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · 612-339-3800

User Rating:  Rating: 4 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

DOWNTOWN. This chic, upbeat restaurant is one of downtown's premiere pre-theater destinations and the place to be seen. Spit-roasted garlic chicken is an excellent choice, as are pizzas, baked to perfection in a wood-burning oven. Wild furnishings and out-of-this-world lighting add to the avant-garde atmosphere.

4. Kramarczuk's

215 E Hennepin, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · 612-379-3018

User Rating:  Rating: 4 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Available
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS. This legendary deli features homemade Ukrainian dishes like nalesnyky (meat-stuffed, cheese-topped crepes) and varenyky (dumplings stuffed with meat, cheese, potatoes, or sauerkraut). Other possibilities include cabbage rolls, sausage-spinach rolls, or goulash. Enjoy your meal in the big, open dining room, and then stop by the counter for homemade Krakowsa sausage or a kolachi, a wonderful, cream-filled pastry.

5. Figlio

3001 Hennepin Ave S, Calhoun Square, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · 612-822-1688

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Outdoor Dining:

UPTOWN. Snug Figlio, one of Minneapolis's trendier restaurants, is just the place to brush shoulders with a well-heeled crowd. Famous for its small plates and wood-grilled meats and seafood, Figlio promises incredible, rustic fare. At lunch, creative pizzas, pastas, and salads reign, but at dinner, you'll want to try garlicky, brick-pressed chicken or maybe Tuscan lamb chops. The best tables are located in the rear near the fireplace, and you can also dine al fresco.

6. Kafé 421

421 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 · 612-623-4900

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Available
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining:

DINKYTOWN. Greece, Russia, France, and Mexico happily commingle at this eclectic bistro near the U of Minnesota campus. Locals are well-acquainted with Kafe 421 as an always-interesting dinner spot, but a selection of hearty specialty sandwiches makes lunch an equally appealing prospect. Try the pepperjack avocado burger on a toasted focaccia roll or the croque monsieur, made with fontina cheese and caramelized onions. Chicken, turkey, and grilled portobello mushrooms also make appearances.

7. Jax Café

1928 NE University Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55418 · 612-789-7297

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Avg. Entrée: $$$16 - $30
Reservations: Recommended
Dress: BCBC: Business Casual
Outdoor Dining:

NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS. The menu mainstay at this landmark restaurant (since the 1930s) is a mouthwatering selection of steaks. Enjoy the legendary broiled New York sirloin or prime rib. An ultra-long bar has a stained glass window that depicts the seven dwarfs. Call ahead for reservations, and a black matchbook bearing your name will be waiting at your table.

8. Pizza Lucé

119 N 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · 612-333-7359

User Rating:  Rating: 4 / 5   (Rate It)

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Available
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining:

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. At Pizza Lucé, the delectable pies are made from scratch, and you can top them with just about anything you desire – high-quality ingredients like seafood, chicken, eggplant, and artichoke hearts. Standard pies to exotic concoctions are possible, and homemade pastas and salads make for a great lunch, as do hoagies. Pizza Luce also offers vegetarian and vegan options and is a fantastic place for late-night dining, as you can tell by the crowds.

9. KinhDo Restaurant

2755 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · 612-870-1295

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Not Accepted
Outdoor Dining: None

UPTOWN. Cheap and vegetarian-friendly, Kinhdo is a hit with the Twin Cities lunch crowd. Along with Vietnamese recipes, the menu features Chinese and Thai influences in the tasty fare. Everyday, over thirty lunch specials (including soup) are available for $5.49 – a superb noontime bargain. Most dishes are noodle-based and feature an array of meats and masterfully cooked tofu. The majority of dishes can also be prepared vegan upon request. Crunchy egg rolls and spring rolls are palatable additions to any meal.

10. Punch Neapolitan Pizza

3226 W Lake St, Calhoun Village Shopping Center, Minneapolis, MN 55410 · 612-929-0006

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Avg. Entrée: $$1 - $15
Reservations: Not Accepted
Dress: CC: Casual
Outdoor Dining: None

SOUTHWEST MINNEAPOLIS. Pizza pies at this local chain are wood-fired, resulting in maximum flavor and pleasantly crisp crusts. Unexpected ingredients like cayenne salami are fresh and appetizing, as are basics like tomatoes and mozzarella. A wide selection of vegetarian options, a decent array of salads, and a wine list that's better than you might imagine are even more reason to take a leisurely lunch at Punch.

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Looking for light and tasty dishes with a quick turn-around time? Or perhaps a power lunch to close the deal? Here, you’ll find the right setting for either! An assortment of decors from casual and sporty to sophisticated and businesslike. You may also find the option of ordering take-out food.

 

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