Restaurants

PDD Poll: How Much Heat?

The stereotype maintains that it’s hard to get spicy restaurant food around here because so many people prefer their food on the mild side. Where do you stand?

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Welcome to downtown Two Harbors!

Why is there great food on Park Point?

Because of all the sand which is there!

Or the noodle bowl or the fried pretzels…

Every Wednesday night, the Chow Haul food truck sets up at the corner of Lake Avenue and 11th Street, to catch the sailors coming in from the races before they get their land legs back.

You can read more about the food truck and its other regular stops on my blog. Or go right to the source, the Chow Haul website.

Dining Vegan in the Duluth Area

Being vegan, not vegetarian, has its challenges when dining out. I’m looking for suggestions of the best vegan eats in Duluth/Superior and the North Shore.

Downtown restaurant gem: Oriental House

At 319 W. First St. is an 8-month-old Asian restaurant specializing in Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine called Oriental House. My spouse and I stopped by this evening to try it out. With the recent PDD post on Pak’s, I figured the power of social media would get the word out on this little gem of a restaurant since I don’t think many folks know about it.  
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New Asian fusion restaurant alert: Pak’s Green Corner in West Duluth

There’s a new restaurant in the Denfeld area at 4131 Grand Avenue that I can only describe as Thai fusion. It’s called Pak’s Green Corner and it’s got a lot of traditional Thai dishes, but also it’s got dishes like Poutine and a Phad Thai burrito on its takeout menu. The sit-down menu had even more unconventional takes on traditional Thai dishes that truly made my mouth water.
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Duluth Jalapeno Express: Closed

Walt Dizzo reports via Facebook today: “So bummed, best restaurant in town. RIP Jalapeno Express.”

Remember all the ranting and raving about the greatness of this place? What happened?

Restaurant with Wifi for fantasy draft

Just seeing if there is an updated list or other suggestions on a restaurant that has a) Wi-fi b) food c) beer d) a spot where 10-12 people can sit around a table near an outlet and be able to hear one another. Thanks.

7 West Tap House

old-ragstock-duluth

Apparently the old Ragstock location at 7 W. Superior St. is going to be transformed into a bar. Consider this a “before” shot.

Why hasn’t anyone mentioned on this blog before that the ladies room at Vintage Italian Pizza in Superior is an art exhibit?

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream on Lake Superior

Who can’t use ice cream during these hot days of summer! There’s a new ice cream shop at 1631 London Road (where Dairy Queen used to be). My husband and I were there on Saturday for their ‘soft’ opening and the ice cream was wonderful. They have soft-serve and traditional hard-serve ice cream. Take a detour off the Lakewalk and check it out!

Chain restaurants are fun: Leeann Chin and other Duluth restaurant gossip

So, Leeann Chin is recruiting for employees in Duluth on Craigslist. Where’s that going to go?

And whatever happened to Noodles & Co. coming to the mall?

A & Dubs

It’s back. First day I’ve seen A and Dubs open this year.

I couldn’t find any reviews from burgerdogboy for some reason and he’s usually got Duluth hand food pretty well covered. However, I did find this little blurb on Jim Heffernan’s blog.

PDD reader-generated A & Dubs stories are most welcome in the comments.

Duluth/Superior’s Best Fish Fry

Which restaurant has the best fish fry in Duluth and Superior? Include type of fish, type of breading, atmosphere … that sort of thing. Any help would be much appreciated.

Lake Avenue Café named “Best Restaurant Worth the Drive” by City Pages

City Pages‘ “Best of the Twin Cities” issue came out on Wednesday. Lake Avenue Café in Duluth took honors for “Best Restaurant Worth the Drive.”
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Family-style Asian Food

I am coordinating an event with about 12 college students attending. The dinner request is for “Chinese” [or similar]. This brought up a discussion with staff that there [apparently] isn’t any place around here that has family portions as an option. I’ve never had the need, so I don’t know if this is accurate. Regardless, could I please get some suggestions on where there is value-priced Asian style cuisine available?

Where is the best place to eat smelt?

The spring smelt run should be not too far off.  I was wondering where people thought the best place to get the golden fish fries were in the area?  I have heard that most places that serve them don’t get them from local sources.  Any smelt aficionados out there?

Eat Downtown!

Kate and I have been Eating Downtown lately, part of the annual promotion of downtown restaurants. (more…)

The Rathskeller at Tycoons Alehouse

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The Rathskeller, located in the sub-basement of the new Tycoons Alehouse and Eatery, opens Thursday, March 15.

This week is the official grand opening at Tycoons, which opened on New Year’s Eve. The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is performing an official Happy Hour Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday at 4 p.m., which will mark the opening of the Rathskeller. Tycoons is also introducing a new lunch menu this week. Check out Tycoons events on the PDD Calendar for grand opening hoopla and more.

R.I.P. Charlotte Zacher of Charlotte’s Cafe

The Duluth News Tribune has a nice remembrance of Charlotte Zacher, of Charlotte’s Cafe fame in Carlton. (more…)

Life House and New Scenic Café partner to help homeless kids

Life House will hold its second annual Hors D’Oeuvres that Open Doors event at the New Scenic Café on Tuesday, March 6, at 6 p.m.

Hors D’Oeuvres that Open Doors is a special event that raises awareness and funds for the vital services Life House provides for homeless and at-risk youth in the Duluth community. (more…)

Giant Panda reopens downtown

Want a filling meal on your lunch break, but don’t want to break the bank? This lady will serve you right up. Qihui Li and Yi Zhong moved out of their West Duluth space and re-opened downtown just one week ago in the old Saigon Cafe location. They own and operate this restaurant, which almost has a fast-food feel. The food was served quickly, relatively cheap, and surprisingly good. (more…)

R.I.P. Jim’s Hamburgers

Jims-Hamburgers-West-End

The paper over the windows at this classic restaurant on the ground floor of the Seaway Hotel, 2005 W. Superior St. in Duluth’s friendly West End, reveals it is out of business. (Jim’s Hamburgers was included in the “Breakfast in Duluth” post just 10 months ago.)

This was the last of four Jim’s Hamburger locations in Duluth. Jim Overlie was the founder, opening the first one in 1937. I think the West End location opened in the 1940s. Overlie sold in 1985 to Dick and Mary Christensen. Dick died in 2000 and Mary died in 2006. Their son Denny took over ownership.

Other Jim’s Hamburger locations were at:
502 E. Fourth St. (closed in 2005)
414 W. Superior (closed in 1995)
502 E. First St. (closed in 1982)

Best Fried Chicken in Duluth

Where can someone go to get good fried chicken around the Twin Ports? KFC is absolutely terrible and I can’t think of any other place that has fried chicken.

What Canal Park Brewing Company will look like

Canal Park Brewing Co. is expected to open this summer. Construction is underway and Wagner Zaun Architecture’s designs look like this. (more…)