Definately an A- or an A
Tin Cup closed quite a few months back, and we had eaten there once before we started doing these reviews. Suffice it to say it was dark, dark, more dark, and not worth the money for the slop you got for food.
New owners came in, did a bit of remodeling, added some much needed windows and paint, new furnishings, did away with the smallish buffet-style table thingy in the back, revamped the menu and many other changes.
Walking in this time, we wouldn't have recognized the place from our prior visit.
In short: The food was great, the service good to great, the drinks were tasty (we only had a few, but it was a varied selection on her part). We used to think Matt's Bar in Minneapolis had the best Juicy Lucy (or Jucy Lucy if your a Matt's regular) but the same burger here will easily give Matt's a run for the money. Bigger, meatier, and terribly tasty (I almost had 2, which would've also meant I'd have to be rolled back out to the car as I'd not've been able to walk). The fries are tasty, even the cheese curds were tasty (though I didn't get the ranch dressing the menu says they come with, still good without it).
The bartender was chatty, well informed, and apparently worked at Tin Cup before it closed as he knew quite a few things about the prior owners and how things were operated and such. He was friendly and outgoing and we enjoyed chatting with him.
The liquor selection seems smallish, but I'll bet that once word starts to spread about the new Tin Cup and business starts to pickup and they've got more money to spend on supplies, that selection will grow as will the menu.
The current menu is not large but is varied. They had a selection of sandwiches and wraps, 4 versions of the Juicy Lucy (try the Lucifer), and a small selection of appetizers. I also noticed upon entering that they seem to have a nightly or weekly special as a lighted sign was advertising an entree that wasn't on the menu.
We will DEFINITELY be back here again, and soon. The place looks good (a nearly 100% turn-around from our prior visit), the food was good, the service was good, the drinks were good... it was all just good! Such a pleasent experience considering the kind of garbage we usually run into at most other restaurants.
We both really do recommend you try it out at least once, and form your own opinion (I'll bet you'll give them at least a B rating).
As proof of that, here's where it is:
Google Map Link to Tin Cup
Showing posts with label good service dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good service dinner. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Melting Pot
Her perspective: A
I think this is the first time I've given out an A!
I went for Ladies Night with four friends. Apparently, they do special events the last Tuesday of every month, but it is VERY hard to get in on these nights. You need to be getting their newsletter and call for reservations as soon as you see it pop into your inbox.
I arrived at 4:30 and my friends showed up shortly thereafter. I was asked to wait in the lounge until a majority of my party had arrived. No problem, they were close behind. I went to a bar table and the bartender came right over with a sheet explaining all the specials and events for Ladies Night. They happened to have a German Riesling on special, so I ordered that. My friends all got the Love Martini when they arrived.
We then walked back up to the host stand and were seated immediately. The host advised us to be careful sliding into the booth as you can hit your knees on the heating elements under the table. Our server came over quickly to make sure we were all set with drinks and understood how everything worked. As there were 5 of us, we were allowed two choices of cheese (appetizer), two choices of broth (for cooking the meat), and two choices of chocolate (their term for dessert, but not all the choices are chocolate).
We selected the fiesta cheese, which can be adjusted according to your taste for spicyness, and the spinach/artichoke. I don't like artichokes, but you couldn't taste them and there was a lot of garlic in it, so I actually liked that one better than the fiesta cheese. We had bread, apples and vegetables for dipping.
The two broths we got were their standard vegetable broth and a carribean style broth. They were both good, but I liked the citrus of the carribean style better. The meats were shrimp, chicken and teriyaki-marinated beef. We ended up popping the meat that was left over into each of the broths to take home.
For the chocolates, we got the Bananas Foster and the Turtle. Both were flambe'd at the table. The Bananas Foster was WONDERFUL, but both could have been hotter in temperature. We had bananas, strawberries, cheesecake, pineapple and marshmallows covered in cinnamon or in chocolate. Very tasty!
We had a manager come over as we were waiting for our cheeses to ask if our server had explained everything and asked questions to make sure we understood. He was very welcoming, gave his name (Randy) and stated that if we needed anything, we could just let him know.
Our server was there every time we needed anything, checked back as appropriate without being overbearing and just made sure we were having a good time. He explained what he was doing as he was doing it - all food is prepared at the table. He even told us that we could trip any employee passing by if we needed anything and he wasn't there... :)
The bussers were exactly where they needed to be, ready to take empty plates/dirty dishes and were quick about it so they weren't in our way.
After our chocolate, we stopped Randy and had him take pictures with several different cameras. He was more than happy to oblige and made a raunchy joke without realizing it which had us just about in tears.
The only deterrent to this night was the amount of time it took to get our checks and get our payment processed. We were there for 3 1/2 hours and all of us had to work early the next morning, so we were anxious to go at that point.
However, the whole experience was very well worth it. It is fairly pricey, but we loved it. What are you waiting for?
I think this is the first time I've given out an A!
I went for Ladies Night with four friends. Apparently, they do special events the last Tuesday of every month, but it is VERY hard to get in on these nights. You need to be getting their newsletter and call for reservations as soon as you see it pop into your inbox.
I arrived at 4:30 and my friends showed up shortly thereafter. I was asked to wait in the lounge until a majority of my party had arrived. No problem, they were close behind. I went to a bar table and the bartender came right over with a sheet explaining all the specials and events for Ladies Night. They happened to have a German Riesling on special, so I ordered that. My friends all got the Love Martini when they arrived.
We then walked back up to the host stand and were seated immediately. The host advised us to be careful sliding into the booth as you can hit your knees on the heating elements under the table. Our server came over quickly to make sure we were all set with drinks and understood how everything worked. As there were 5 of us, we were allowed two choices of cheese (appetizer), two choices of broth (for cooking the meat), and two choices of chocolate (their term for dessert, but not all the choices are chocolate).
We selected the fiesta cheese, which can be adjusted according to your taste for spicyness, and the spinach/artichoke. I don't like artichokes, but you couldn't taste them and there was a lot of garlic in it, so I actually liked that one better than the fiesta cheese. We had bread, apples and vegetables for dipping.
The two broths we got were their standard vegetable broth and a carribean style broth. They were both good, but I liked the citrus of the carribean style better. The meats were shrimp, chicken and teriyaki-marinated beef. We ended up popping the meat that was left over into each of the broths to take home.
For the chocolates, we got the Bananas Foster and the Turtle. Both were flambe'd at the table. The Bananas Foster was WONDERFUL, but both could have been hotter in temperature. We had bananas, strawberries, cheesecake, pineapple and marshmallows covered in cinnamon or in chocolate. Very tasty!
We had a manager come over as we were waiting for our cheeses to ask if our server had explained everything and asked questions to make sure we understood. He was very welcoming, gave his name (Randy) and stated that if we needed anything, we could just let him know.
Our server was there every time we needed anything, checked back as appropriate without being overbearing and just made sure we were having a good time. He explained what he was doing as he was doing it - all food is prepared at the table. He even told us that we could trip any employee passing by if we needed anything and he wasn't there... :)
The bussers were exactly where they needed to be, ready to take empty plates/dirty dishes and were quick about it so they weren't in our way.
After our chocolate, we stopped Randy and had him take pictures with several different cameras. He was more than happy to oblige and made a raunchy joke without realizing it which had us just about in tears.
The only deterrent to this night was the amount of time it took to get our checks and get our payment processed. We were there for 3 1/2 hours and all of us had to work early the next morning, so we were anxious to go at that point.
However, the whole experience was very well worth it. It is fairly pricey, but we loved it. What are you waiting for?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Red Lobster, Maplewood
Her Perspective: B+
The first thing I want to say is that this restaurant was a pleasure to visit. Carol was our server and she was very attentive and personable. She even talked to the table behind me since the little boy was kicking the booth seat and she had noticed that it bothered me. She also made sure that if he started doing it again that I would tell her and she would talk to them again.
This is service as it should be in a family-style dining restaurant. We were both impressed. The food was great, all of it was the correct temperature and they even accommodated my request to have my crab legs served a few minutes after the rest of my entree to make sure they didn't get cold while I was working on the rest.
I honestly don't have any complaints and we were both very pleased. We will definitely be back and may even ask for the same server. She attemped upsells without being pushy, she was knowledgable about the menu and she was observant. That's all that we have been looking for. I would recommend this location.
The first thing I want to say is that this restaurant was a pleasure to visit. Carol was our server and she was very attentive and personable. She even talked to the table behind me since the little boy was kicking the booth seat and she had noticed that it bothered me. She also made sure that if he started doing it again that I would tell her and she would talk to them again.
This is service as it should be in a family-style dining restaurant. We were both impressed. The food was great, all of it was the correct temperature and they even accommodated my request to have my crab legs served a few minutes after the rest of my entree to make sure they didn't get cold while I was working on the rest.
I honestly don't have any complaints and we were both very pleased. We will definitely be back and may even ask for the same server. She attemped upsells without being pushy, she was knowledgable about the menu and she was observant. That's all that we have been looking for. I would recommend this location.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
St. Paul Bar & Grill - November 14, 2007
His Perspective: A
Her Perspective: B+ (not over and above, but a great standard to hold other restaurants to)
We've found our new favorite restaurant! Kincaid's has been slipping over the last few months, so we decided to try something new. Since the St. Paul Grill is right across the street (in The Saint Paul Hotel) we figured it was worth the extra minute walk.
Worth it is an understatement. Keep in mind that that everything will cost more compared to Kincaid's or Matty B's, but it is much closer to a fine dining experience (dress is business casual still).
Our steaks were perfect, our server was on the ball. The starters we ordered were tasty but not the best we've ever had (crab cake and escargot) and even the bread they offer to all tables was quite good. The soup and salad were nice though, and the sides they offer (all À la carte) are big enough for 3 or 4 people; the mashed potatoes were exactly that, no extra over powering flavors or anything.
For dessert, she had a chocolate creme brulee and I had a slice of plain cheesecake (usually offered with sour cream), both of which were excellent.
I can't think of anything bad to say about the St. Paul Grill except that it was quite loud in the dining area until just after 8pm, after that it was quite nice.
If you want a simple and excellent dining experience, you need to try the St. Paul Grill. 'Nuff said.
Her Perspective: B+ (not over and above, but a great standard to hold other restaurants to)
We've found our new favorite restaurant! Kincaid's has been slipping over the last few months, so we decided to try something new. Since the St. Paul Grill is right across the street (in The Saint Paul Hotel) we figured it was worth the extra minute walk.
Worth it is an understatement. Keep in mind that that everything will cost more compared to Kincaid's or Matty B's, but it is much closer to a fine dining experience (dress is business casual still).
Our steaks were perfect, our server was on the ball. The starters we ordered were tasty but not the best we've ever had (crab cake and escargot) and even the bread they offer to all tables was quite good. The soup and salad were nice though, and the sides they offer (all À la carte) are big enough for 3 or 4 people; the mashed potatoes were exactly that, no extra over powering flavors or anything.
For dessert, she had a chocolate creme brulee and I had a slice of plain cheesecake (usually offered with sour cream), both of which were excellent.
I can't think of anything bad to say about the St. Paul Grill except that it was quite loud in the dining area until just after 8pm, after that it was quite nice.
If you want a simple and excellent dining experience, you need to try the St. Paul Grill. 'Nuff said.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Innuendo - October 19, 2007
His perspective: A-
While out and about Friday evening in Lowertown St. Paul, we found ourselves in front of Union Depot trying to think a place to eat. Across the street from us was Innuendo. I've walked past it a few times on my way out of work, and I know they've advertised burgers and chili on a semi-regular basis.
We decided to go in and try the food.
I'm glad we did. They weren't terribly busy, but it was still a little early for the Friday night crowd so I wasn't at all surprised. We pretty much had our choice of seating (was around 7pm as I recall). A quick review of the menu had me ordering a bacon cheeseburger with provolone and mayo, and Maryanne had a BBQ chicken sandwich; both came with kettle (potato) chips.
The chips were a little too crispy and hard for Maryanne, I kinda liked them (and finished both hers and mine). But that is a small thing compared to the food.
My god! For the first time in a month at least, we had friendly and very timely service, food prepared as requested, and the taste! It was GREAT! Best burger I've had in a long time (and that includes the famous burgers at the Lion's Tap). So juicy, a nice hint of butter, and quite a nice size.
Maryanne had some of my burger (and she doesn't generally like butter burgers like Culvers) and she thought it was really good. I had a bite of her chicken... so tender and juicy, better then any chicken sandwich I've ever had anywhere. She really liked it too.
We were chatting with our server afterwards, and turns out he was one of the owners. He called over another of the owners, and we proceeded into a nice conversation about the food, the service, our many recent bad experiences dining out and such.
Needless to say they were very pleased. The food, quality and service all rate high in my book. If I ever get a chance at a decent lunch during my workday, I will be stopping back for more. The lack of a solid dinner crowd worries me a little, but they are a recent addition to the area, so I'd bet most folks haven't had a chance to stop in yet. Seriously, its good food for a good price.
And to those people that say I'm impossible to please, read this article again and say that.
While out and about Friday evening in Lowertown St. Paul, we found ourselves in front of Union Depot trying to think a place to eat. Across the street from us was Innuendo. I've walked past it a few times on my way out of work, and I know they've advertised burgers and chili on a semi-regular basis.
We decided to go in and try the food.
I'm glad we did. They weren't terribly busy, but it was still a little early for the Friday night crowd so I wasn't at all surprised. We pretty much had our choice of seating (was around 7pm as I recall). A quick review of the menu had me ordering a bacon cheeseburger with provolone and mayo, and Maryanne had a BBQ chicken sandwich; both came with kettle (potato) chips.
The chips were a little too crispy and hard for Maryanne, I kinda liked them (and finished both hers and mine). But that is a small thing compared to the food.
My god! For the first time in a month at least, we had friendly and very timely service, food prepared as requested, and the taste! It was GREAT! Best burger I've had in a long time (and that includes the famous burgers at the Lion's Tap). So juicy, a nice hint of butter, and quite a nice size.
Maryanne had some of my burger (and she doesn't generally like butter burgers like Culvers) and she thought it was really good. I had a bite of her chicken... so tender and juicy, better then any chicken sandwich I've ever had anywhere. She really liked it too.
We were chatting with our server afterwards, and turns out he was one of the owners. He called over another of the owners, and we proceeded into a nice conversation about the food, the service, our many recent bad experiences dining out and such.
Needless to say they were very pleased. The food, quality and service all rate high in my book. If I ever get a chance at a decent lunch during my workday, I will be stopping back for more. The lack of a solid dinner crowd worries me a little, but they are a recent addition to the area, so I'd bet most folks haven't had a chance to stop in yet. Seriously, its good food for a good price.
And to those people that say I'm impossible to please, read this article again and say that.
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