I second Brunson’s Pub. Gordy’s Hi Hat is also good. Not bar food, but just north of Gordy’s on 33 is the Cloquet Family Restaurant in an old converted drive in restaurant. I try to time my trips to the hunting shack so that I pass through there at breakfast time. The breakfast special is cakes, eggs, meat and hash browns for cheap. A personal favorite.
Gordy’s is great, however, being a local and having worked there in high school I’m sure it doesn’t have the allure that it does for people who pass by maybe once or twice a year. Still, we get plenty of it during the summer.
Anchor Bar in Superior
Carmen’s Bar in Cloquet
Gosh Dam
Elmwood Inn in Atkinson
Last couple months I’ve become a big fan of Jonsies in Hudson. They have a Cajun Prime Rib Samwich special on Sundays that trips my trigger. They charge 17.00 for it but there are places that charge that for a burger. Barkers in Hudson has the best wings but they are very proud of them (18.00).
Dont get the Gordys thing. Only had it once and it was nothing special. Just popular cause it was on Food Network.
Yeah, Gordy’s isn’t worth a special trip, but I do like the blackberry shake.
Family Tradition has very good food and reasonably though. Always make it a point to stop there if in the region or passing through.
NOT Matt’s or 5 8 club
That pie place (Betty’s I think) up the North Shore is 100% worth the trip to get one of their pie shakes where they put an actual piece of pie in it. They are ridiculous.
KPE, that’s Northeast Mpls, and a far stretch from needing a gun. My 14 and her friends after school and practices walk around that entire area with their iphones and chapstick…
was gonna say the same thing. If you think thats bad please dont bother going to what is actually North Minneapolis. you might have a panic attack.
Speaking of NE, i didnt see it mentioned yet but if you are a fan of Ruben sandwiches do yourself a favor and go to Stanley’s. I havent been there in years but i still think about them. Hopefully it hasnt changed
KPE, that’s Northeast Mpls, and a far stretch from needing a gun. My 14 and her friends after school and practices walk around that entire area with their iphones and chapstick…
I guess the two times I’ve been there for breakfast on Sundays and fights have broken out were both just one of a kind incidents and certainly never happen outside of that. But I guess that’s just my first hand experience, who am I to judge?
Not bar food, but just north of Gordy’s on 33 is the Cloquet Family Restaurant in an old converted drive in restaurant. I try to time my trips to the hunting shack so that I pass through there at breakfast time. The breakfast special is cakes, eggs, meat and hash browns for cheap. A personal favorite.
thats funny i do the same thing! On the way to the hunting shack i always try to stop at family tradition. Awesome breakfast and very reasonably priced. Love that place.
Honestly ive never cared for Gordy’s. Ive eaten there a few times and didnt care for the burgers
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Notmafiaguy wrote:</div>
KPE, that’s Northeast Mpls, and a far stretch from needing a gun. My 14 and her friends after school and practices walk around that entire area with their iphones and chapstick…was gonna say the same thing. If you think thats bad please dont bother going to what is actually North Minneapolis. you might have a panic attack.
Speaking of NE, i didnt see it mentioned yet but if you are a fan of Ruben sandwiches do yourself a favor and go to Stanley’s. I havent been there in years but i still think about them. Hopefully it hasnt changed
I’m good, I left for a reason. grew up on rice st, still spend enough time in the cities to know I don’t care for north, northeast, or downtown mpls very much. Some guys here for sure are deathly afraid of the cities, I’m not, But let’s be real about minneapolis it’s not the big friendly and hasn’t been since before I was born.
I’m good, I left for a reason. grew up on rice st, still spend enough time in the cities to know I don’t care for north, northeast, or downtown mpls very much. Some guys here for sure are deathly afraid of the cities, I’m not, But let’s be real about minneapolis it’s not the big friendly and hasn’t been since before I was born.
All good. you do you boo
If we are talking Bar Food, seems very hard to find any place out of the cities that can consistently put out good or great bar food. Make a stop and one time it’s great, next time it sucks. And this was the case well before covid.
Right now my go to Bar is the Pill Box Tavern in DT St Paul (Old Dayton’s building) Excellent food and great every trip. If you stop there, try the wings in the Spicy Korean flavor. Yum!
-J.
I reside in Stearns county and there are some many great little bars nestled into every town that they are worth a try. The ones Ill mention are just off of 94 heading towards Alexandria. The corner pub in free port or any of the shadys. If your heading up highway ten stop in BECKs bar in staples he actually grows his own beef and uses it in his bar.
The ancho Bar is great spotted cow on tap and great burgers.
My favorite thing to do when I get into town or on a fishing trip is to ask a local or someone at the landing where we should go eat or stop for a beer. Have had many great recommendations over the years
great Topic Dutch!!
My favorite is the hot beef sandwich at Jack’s Shack south of McGregor. They also have the best broasted chicken around.
Speaking of NE, i didnt see it mentioned yet but if you are a fan of Ruben sandwiches do yourself a favor and go to Stanley’s. I havent been there in years but i still think about them. Hopefully it hasnt changed
Never had the Ruben and I love them, but Stanleys has some of the better burgers around too and if they still have it Mondays they are on special, we used to hit them often when I worked in Nord East.
My favorite is the hot beef sandwich at Jack’s Shack south of McGregor. They also have the best broasted chicken around.
Speaking of Broasted chicken… I see The Brass Rail in Grandy is for sale.
$1.3 seems a bit excessive but they must have the numbers (sales) to back it up.
If we are talking Bar Food, seems very hard to find any place out of the cities that can consistently put out good or great bar food. Make a stop and one time it’s great, next time it sucks.
I’d say that’s the case for almost all places save a few these days.
in Stearns county and there are some many great little bars nestled into every town that they are worth a try.
Agreed! Trobec’s in St. Stephen can be awesome, especially if Dave is smoking a hog or side of beef. And Howie’s wings are still my favorite traditional buffalo wings.
Big Werm Stearns County Small town have three things for sure in them Church, ball field and bar. Many of those town that is it. My favorite pre Covid Was Trappers in Farming the old goat ropers bar.
Many years ago when I was in college at St Cloud, a pub called Superstars was now where the current White Horse is now. On Thursday nights, they had a ridiculous special that my friends and I often took advantage of. $1 tap beers (16 oz) and 15 cent wings. You could fill up on beer and wings for under 10 bucks which was fairly reasonable being a college student.
And Howie’s wings are still my favorite traditional buffalo wings.
Rusty nail wings taste exactly the same as Howies. Ive tried to get Howie’s recipe but its like trying to get the nuclear codes. Ive heard he actually puts grape jelly in there. Im convinced I know most of the ingredients. The only buffalo wings that I have had that were better were Runyon’s in Mpls. Those are the best out there and I have had a ton of hot wings in my day.
Howies
Is this the Howie’s in st cloud?
Superstars was now where the current White Horse is now. On Thursday nights, they had a ridiculous special that my friends and I often took advantage of. $1 tap beers (16 oz) and 15 cent wings. You could fill up on beer and wings for under 10 bucks which was fairly reasonable being a college student.
Our work Softball Team was sponsored by Superstars back in the day and we would go in there and get wings. We’d order like 200 wings or something like that and these two dudes got the “extremes”. My eyes were watering just sitting next to them eating them. They were unreal. I ate ONE and that was it. Holy cow were they hot.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>CaptainMusky wrote:</div>
HowiesIs this the Howie’s in st cloud?
Kind of, St. Stephen is the OG but same recipe’s.
Our work Softball Team was sponsored by Superstars back in the day and we would go in there and get wings. We’d order like 200 wings or something like that and these two dudes got the “extremes”. My eyes were watering just sitting next to them eating them. They were unreal. I ate ONE and that was it. Holy cow were they hot.
LOL I never got the extreme versions. Just the standard buffalo ones for this guy.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>grubson wrote:</div>
My favorite is the hot beef sandwich at Jack’s Shack south of McGregor. They also have the best broasted chicken around.Speaking of Broasted chicken… I see The Brass Rail in Grandy is for sale.
$1.3 seems a bit excessive but they must have the numbers (sales) to back it up.
Seems very excessive.
Dont get the Gordys thing. Only had it once and it was nothing special. Just popular cause it was on Food Network.
Went one time and I probably won’t go out of my way for it again
Kind of, St. Stephen is the OG but same recipe’s.
IMO the ones in St Cloud are not quite the same or at least consistent. We used to go there every wednesday and when we started going to St Stephen noticed they were always bang on. Its Howie’s ex that runs the one in St Cloud I think.
Interesting topic Dutch, the Star Trib on Thursday did there iconic eats greater Minnesota edition. There was a lot of cool stuff in there. Gordy Hi Hat in Cloquet made the list and I have heard great things about them but never stopped. Anyone care to chime in.
John, I will hit them up about every month over the summer for Thursday lunch and their Double cheeseburger special. Hand made patties, good generous fries and rings, and some great shakes. Generous portions, good prices and everything I’ve had there has been good/great.
Just can’t deal with the crowds Friday to Sunday, its amazing how many folks stop there over the summer weekends (they open around mid/late March and just closed for the season this weekend).
For another good spot on the 33 corridor, a block north on the northbound side is Family Traditions restaurant, breakfasts there are awesome!
Since the Wilhop Inn closed years ago… I would have to say if you get to Maui… try the Alehouse in Kahului. A bar with really good burgers.. best I have had. 
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
