The latest from Twitter: @BirchwoodCafe is featuring artwork by WACSO (check out his lively contributions to some of our stories), @fultonbeer’s Sweet Child of Vine is only $3 a pint @ZenBoxIzakaya, @RickNelsonStrib wants to know how you tip, and @MNBeerActivists ask about the best beer for breakfast time.
Lori Writer / Heavy Table
Jucy Lucys. Spaghetti and meatballs. Asian buffet. Sunday brunch. Breakfast served all day. Authentic Filipino cuisine. Chicken and Ribs. Wings. Catering. All this… and more… appears to be in store at the old Andy’s Garage location at 1825 University Ave. in St. Paul. The overall thrust of the signage seems to be that Kenny’s Chicken and Ribs is back, but that clarifies very little.
Attempts to reach the establishment and decode the sign forest were unsuccessful, so we’re welcoming insight, speculation and/or commentary from our readership.
UPDATE: A visit to the mystery restaurant uncovered a few salient facts.
The place is an American/Filipino place called Mabuhay, and it’s been open for two weeks. They claim to be doing a brisk delivery business in the neighborhood.
Kenny is the owner, and the chicken and ribs were apparently on the menu of a restaurant he owned many years ago in White Bear Lake. His wife is Filipina.
The beef afritada, $8.99, was a hearty, homestyle beef stew with potatoes, peas, carrots, red and green bell peppers and a dollop of white rice. Very comforting, not challenging. The cassava cake ($3.50) was a very dense, barely sweet cake with a strong coconut flavor.
Mabuhay means “welcome”, “hello,” “long live!” or “greetings,” and is derived from Tagalog.
UPDATE, JUNE 10, 2009: Mabuhay is now closed. It was a brief, wild ride.
Lori Writer / Heavy Table
The Pioneer Press’ Tad Vezner covers last night’s fire at Yarusso Bros. Yarusso’s is a real classic in Saint Paul; this fire is a tragedy. I hope they’re able to fix up and reopen soon. Hat tip to Brian.
Brian Moen found on the Midtown Global Market Facebook wall that the Manny’s Tortas on East Lake and 27th Street will be closing. The Heavy Table verified that their last day is tomorrow, Saturday, February 28th.
$80,000 and a montly rent of $1,600 gets you this hole-in-the-wall Chinese joint at 2924 Chicago Ave South. Somebody — and it may have to be us — should do a long story on the ecology of the Cities’ many, little, interchangable Chinese restaurants that just keep soldiering on. And does anybody still eat chow mein?
Tags: Jan's Chow Mein
Cost Plus World Market is having a fixtures fire sale at six locations — tables, barrels, wine rack shelving, and more. More information at the Craigslist post, including details on locations (Bloomington, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Roseville, Woodbury, Rochester.) The liquidation supervisor has more details: 267.374.8518.
Tags: Cost Plus World Market
Thinking about pulling up to a table at the Good Day Cafe on a Sunday morning? You better set your alarm if you’d like to eat promptly. At 8:45am on a recent Sunday, the cheery country dining room was already filled with hungry west metro residents, but a party of three could still be seated without delay. A mere 15 minutes later, the number of people hanging around the large waiting area multiplied rapidly, giving diners jealous stares as they tucked into their plates of omelets, pancakes and french toast. Lucky bastards.
But once you become one of those lucky bastards, it’s easy to see why everyone else is giving you the stink-eye. They have grumbling stomachs while you’re devouring an apple souffle pancake, a sticky-sweet plate full of luscious fruit. It’s big enough to share, but chances are you won’t. Or you’re enjoying one of the French or souffle omelets packed with potatoes and leeks. Think Perkins, but 10 times more creative and 100 times better. If you’re a fan of Yum! Kitchen and Bakery, you’ll definitely appreciate Good Day Cafe’s gourmet-yet-still-grounded approach to breakfast cuisine.
Though Good Day Cafe’s concepts are wonderful, execution doesn’t always come off perfectly. A fried egg sandwich with onions, avocado and tomato (and ham, if you choose) on grilled brioche was tasty, but imagine how much tastier it will be in August when the tomato is in season. The beignets, a New Orleans fried-dough treat that speaks loudly to Minnesotans’ love for all things deep-fried, were warm and yeasty, but the classic powdered-sugar topping was replaced with granulated sugar. Granted, those who’ve never eaten Cafe du Monde’s famous beignets would probably never know the difference, but beignet aficionados sure do.
Good Day Cafe isn’t just for breakfast. At lunch you can find salads and sandwiches, such as Reubens, and there’s also a coffee bar that serves up drinks in the big mugs reminiscent of the Friends era. But truth be told, you’re going to be there for breakfast. And remember — the early bird gets the best beignets.
Good Day Cafe
Diner / cafe in Golden Valley
5410 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55416
763.544.0205
OWNER: David Webb
HOURS:
Mon-Sat 6:30-11 am (breakfast) and 11am-3pm (lunch)
Sun 6:30 am-3 pm (breakfast)
RESERVATIONS?: No, but guests can call ahead before arriving to get on the waiting list
VEGETARIAN / VEGAN?: Yes / No
ENTREE RANGE: $6-15
Recent Comments