October 12, 2009 by Chad.

Originally posted December 27, 2007

SUGAR’S HAS SINCE CLOSED

It has been a long timer since I posted a review of a restaurant. Since I am still living then it is safe to assume that I am eating and it is likely that I have eaten out at least sometime in the last couple months. Now that we have fully established the logical reasoning, let’s start to talk about Sugar’s.Sugar’s BBQ has moved from the east side of town where it was little known and even less seen. Now it is located in a strip mall on the west side of town near where O’Hara’s Brew Pub used to be(Which is now called McCann’s, but that’s a review for a separate post.). As BBQ ribs go, I am kind of a rib snob. I expect tender meat, good sauce, and low gristle. It doesn’t sound like all that much to ask but you would be suprised at how many BBQ restaurants can’t get the balance right.

Food: 7 If its good 3 if its not

As my office is now located just down the street from Sugar’s, I have had their food a few times and it seems rather inconsistent. I have been there when the meat was very tender and then there is the last time I was there. The rib tips were so dry it resembled beef jerky rather then ribs meet. On the upside I had a “Sloppy Sugar” sandwich which was piled high with moist sliced meat and slathered with their own barbecue. That’s one good thing you can say about the food at Sugar’s, there’s a lot of it. The barbecue comes in three flavors. Its not three unique tastes as the base for all three is the same but you can get it in regular, spicy or honey varieties. Would I eat there again? Probably, but more out of convenience then out of choice.

Service: 2

While a couple of the staff there have personalities, for the most part I feel like an inconvenience to their day than a paying customer. This is one of the most disconcerting parts of my experience. When someone goes to the counter to order their food it is customary to smile and greet them warmly. Instead its closer to the deadpan stare of Ben Stein. Maybe its because I am a guy. Who knows?

Atmosphere: 4

Ok, let me defend this one by saying that they just opened not too long ago and their walls are barren. As I understand it the muralist has not come to paint the wall yet. When that happens hopefully it will warm up the cafeteria feel. Plain white walls and absence of all decorations besides a Pepsi wall clock make for no inner life to the place. I would normally rate this kind of display lower but giving them a pass because of their recent re-opening and it really is a very clean looking restaurant.

Overall: 4 (Recommended to carry-out only)

I would expect a lot of these scores to change over time. This is not a chain so they are stuck with the resources they have to get going. For that I know that, if they can stay open, they will likely develop into the kind of restaurant that I would be happy to send people to. Until there I will watch and wait.

BTW, check out their not quite finished website. It has a pretty cool theme so hopefully that is indicative of what their restaurant will look like.

Sugar’s BBQ

3413 3rd Ave N

Pantown Mall

St Cloud, MN 56303

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

Originally posted August 21, 2007

Pete’s Place has been around in different incarnations for some
time. If you are looking for the epitome of the neighborhood greasy
spoon restaurant then Pete’s is the place for you. It brings in an
eclectic mix of young and old. Both college students and locals
gravitate towards Pete’s for its good food, friendly nature, and unique
atmosphere.

Food: 8 (limited but good)

Pete’s is only open for breakfast and lunch, but it is the type of
place that shines in certain ways. The burgers are fabulous. They are
fresh ground beef, juicy, and big. The breakfasts are…well, breakfast
like your mother makes.(if indeed you have a mother that cooks) My
favorite would have to be a toss up between the “Flavored Fruit
Pancakes” and the old standby “Diced Ham with Scrambled Eggs and
Toast”. Healthy portions at a decent price are always refreshing when
eating out and breakfast is the best meal of the day to really “fill
the tank”. Everything has a certain amount of grease so be cautioned
that the food is by no means exceptionally healthy. There’s a lot of
love put into it, and we all know that can be too good for us all the
time.

Service: 6

Pete’s tends not to be a place for a speedy in and out meal. This is
not so much a criticism as an observation. Its a sit down and enjoy the
setting type of place. Service is dependent on who you get and how
seriously you take dining. Pete is a great host. He’s warm and friendly
and usually engages in plenty of talk with you unless there’s a lot of
orders he needs to attend to. The people he has serving are serviceable
but not particularly outstanding.

One of his long standing employees is a woman named Tammy. She may
seem belligerent and rough edged, but she is part of the character of
Pete’s and for that I suggest forgiving her of her transgressions
against the norms of restaurant service. You know someone has to have
an indelible mark on a place when they have a sandwich named after them.

Atmosphere: 9

This is by far the most colorfully charactered restaurant I have
been to in a while. If you are an eccentric, you are probably a regular
at Pete’s. A local artist comes in with her digital camera and takes
pictures of patrons for Pete’s own Wall of Fame. These candid shots of
patrons makes it feel very close nit there. A local cribbage league
produces more smoke than the Becker power plant in the back room and
there is almost always a game of it going on. Regulars are almost
treated like family when they walk through the door and that really is
amazing.

This place is alive with the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood.
As cities expand and grow there seems to be a shrinking of our world.
Neighborhood places like Pete’s are more rare to find unless you go to
a town small enough. These are the places that deliver and survive and
there friendly nature and outstanding food options.

Overall: 8

Pete’s is a classic in its own right not only because of its humble
working man’s appearance and victuals, but also its unique offerings.
It is the example of the type of place that goes against the grain of
the modern chain restaurant taste and feel. Its because of that the
Pete’s occupies a special place in my heart. Hopefully it will occupy a
special place in my stomach and yours very soon.

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

Originally Posted August 19, 2007

Back in the day before coffee shops were a dime a dozen in this town, I had designs to start my own coffee shop up. I even went so far as to draw up a business plan and scope out locations for opening said coffee shop. It was going to cater to and champion blues as nothing was cooler than blues music. Sadly that plan turned to dust, but there is a home for the blues in St Cloud and its at the Legend’s Grill and Bar.Legend’s is located in the Holiday Inn Hotel on the corner of Highways 23 and 15. For the purposes of a restaurant review I put my musical tastes aside, but the live blues bands can be pretty awesome to see. For this review I picked a slower time to go and employed the help of my wife and children…the usual suspects. I know the owner of the hotel, so hopefully he does not read this or at least sees my commentary as contructive… as it always is. There were some definite highs and some lows which left me mixed on experience, but let’s get going.

Food: 5 (Mixed reception)

When we arrived I was expecting the whole G&B feel good food menu. Sure, standard American fare was all over the menu, but I was also seeing some more intriguing options. Nestled in the pasta section I found Thyme Roasted Chicken with Cheese Ravioli. Robin had her usual in such locals, a bacon cheeseburger with fries. The Kids menu had the usual 6 or 7 items most families can count on when they eat out, so the kids had Mac’n’Cheese and chicken fingers with fries.

First the Thyme Roasted Chicken. I was not nearly as excited about the dish when it arrived. They seemed to have forgotten half of it in the kitchen because for the price I was expecting to be fully fed. Instead I was greeted with what can be described as a “premium” portion.

Higher class restaurants like to dress up small portions with glitzy presentations. These shows are often camped in commercials and comedies. You know, for $50 they get a little wedge of something in the middle of a huge plate and are left wanting something real. That kind of ostentatious dining does not fly in the land of meat and potatoes. On top of it all the the raviolis were not particularly warm. Since the garlic bread was overly dry I would surmise my dish spent a titch too much time in the window under a warming light. It was a pretty presentation though with a healthy balance of color (Thanks to the spinach leaves) but it was not particularly tasty.

Robin’s burger was moist enough and served with a slice of cheddar rather than American cheese. Actually you had a choice of cheddar, American or Swiss. It was definitely a healthy size and at $3 less than what my meal cost, it was a better buy.

One of the highlights of the meal was the barbecue sauce that was served up with my daughters chicken fingers. It was simultaneously not sweet nor tart. It had a smoky flavor to it that was far from bold but thorough. I am fairly certain that I have had it before someplace else, so it is not likely homemade.

Price was higher for my meal, but I was amazed to find that kids eat free. Is this everyday? I am not sure but it would explain why there were a few tables with multiple children at them. The kids meals were originally priced at $4.89 which would have been a good price for all that they got, but for FREE is even better. Robin’s bacon cheeseburger was $8 and my chicken thingy was $11. Drinks were apparently free as they didn’t appear on the bill. Thanks, Mr Bar Back!

Service: 5 (Mixed reception)

The server we had was actually a bar back, so maybe the service would have been better if an actual server graced our table. The only server who was there kind of said hello to us when we walked in, but that was the last we saw of her until after the food was close fully consumed. (The rest of the family that is, mine was gone all together too fast.) Anyway, between the server and the bar back they had a few families and a few bar patrons to attend so I was not particularly demanding. The bar back offered to get us a high chair for my daughter, but after trying to hold on to a thrashing hungry toddler for ten minutes I had to take it upon myself to find the high chair. After finding it, he asked if I wanted him to carry it. Forget it, buddy. I needed this sense of accomplishment to be all mine.

Atmosphere: 7

The restaurant clearly draws its life from the bar at its center, but the restaurant has a few architectural features of note. There is a glass walled conference room for meetings that is rife with sports memorabilia. Overall the restaurant is dominated by six uniquely arranged areas. This is good for all types of occasions, whether that be a romantic dinner for two, a lunch meeting, a family scrum, or even a blues concert. It has an open floor plan which directs attention to the stage area with little more than cursory decorations.

It appears that they are good at keeping the place clean regardless of how many other toddlers threw their french fries and their brothers Mac’n’Cheese on the floor. Nothing turns the stomach more than seeing until past meals rubbed into the floor and walls, so I was happy to see they take pride in cleanliness. Good luck with the barbecue stain, hope it comes out for you.

Overall: 6

I was generally happy with the food and would anticipate eating there again. Next time I will stick to the American portion of the menu as I know I will be getting my money’s worth. It is a bar through and through so as long as expectations start there, there will be no disappointments and next time I will have to catch a show.

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

I try to go to restaurants with a very objective view of the establishment, untarnished by other experiences. Sadly, without hearing a word about the Super Buffet, I was influenced simply by the name…SUPER. I blame them for raising the bar far beyond what I came to experience while eating lunch there.

Food: 7 (High marks for variety, but not outstanding)

The best thing about the Super Buffet is the unique additions to the St Cloud Asian buffet. I say Asian because there were definitely some dishes that seemed of varying origins. A couple of the more surprising items included massive salmon fillets and…forgive me for not knowing the proper terminology on this one as I don’t often eat raw fish…sushi wrapped in rice. I plated what I thought was some sort of chicken in something like a sesame sauce but it was actually a sweet peanut buttery sauce….mmm, yummy.

Probably the most remarkable thing I found in the buffet was something quite unremarkable, sliced pieces of hotdog. What makes this remarkable is that they are fully catering to the finicky tastes of the American toddler. If every restaurant had hotdog as an option then most families would have a far better experience dining out with little ones. Goodness knows, our family would definitely have avoided a number of toddler blow-ups. Kudos.

Now for the downside. Nothing was outstandingly awesome in the taste category. The peanut sauce was the only surprise. Also, enen though I was impressed by the presence of salmon, it was a little overcooked, but what can you expect when it sits in a warming tray for a few minutes beyond prime done-ness.

Service: 5 (Nothing beyond way is necessary)

I am torn here because there are cultural morays at play when it comes to service. Once you have realize that there is a service/sociability difference that often is exhibited in Asian restaurants, it is hard to view things with truly “Average Joe American” eyes. Since the audience here is more than likely the type of people who would view service in this way, I am bound to judge it in generic American perspective.

Here is what I experienced. The wait staff does what it needs to do. Is your glass empty? Has that dirty plate been sitting on your table for 5 minutes without being picked up? That’s about it. I tend to appreciate my dining experience more when the server or host makes an effort to cater to my needs more than just assume my needs are the same as any other animal coming to the feeding trough. I like personality. I like people going out of there way to please me.

Atmosphere: 5 (Score Suffers due to cleanliness issues)

If you’ve read a previous review you will have already known my philosophy of a buffet includes a crowbar to wedge people in to a big room with lots of tables. Super Buffet has dividers and tries to break it up some, kind of like how a lot of McDonald’s differentiate themselves by decorating their restaurants in a different way…its still feels like a McDonald’s no matter what you do. Lots of gray, a few more wall hangings, but nothing really eye catching.

What this place really needs is a good cleaning. Dirty carpeting that is many shades darker than it was originally needs to be cleaned. Glass booth divider tops need more cleaning attention as splatter and hand prints were not isolated to just one booth. This tells me either one naughty little kid intentionally got their hands dirty and walked into each booth with the sole intent of getting all the crane relief frosted glass to bear his mark. Better yet, how did this splatter marks get up there, the idea is to dine not gorge. For not being thqat old of a restaurant I expected more effort to make it look nice.

I was a little disappointed, but the overall experience was satisfying…maybe only because I know that I can take my 3 year old there for hotdogs and I can have salmon without much fuss. I may seem over analytical to some, but at least you know what you are getting into before you go.

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

Many moons ago the Lincoln Depot was just a bar that served good burgers. As time marched forward and the powers that be decided that they needed a separate dining room, the Lincoln Depot became much more. It became a family friendly restaurant with a thoroughly ingrained locomotive theme.

Food: 7

Assuming that you like bar faire americana, then the Lincoln Depot serves up a bounty of tasty dishes for people of varying tastes. Salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and a cornucopia of yummy fried objects. Oh, and try the soups. Beer Cheese and Chili are mainstays, but I have heard reports that the onion soup is great…guess you have to like onion more than I do to appreciate it.

Eatin out at the Depot is a great thing on the pocketbook as well as you can always go out on a date with a significant other and manage to spend around $20 and that’s no stripped down meal. This would include an app, entrees, and drinks. Definitely reason to go more often.

Service: 8

The staff at the Depot are an ageless lot that seem to stick a round forever. They are the type of people you get to know and always seem to remember what you had last time you were there. Ok, so people to come and go, but the core seems to remain the same.

Atmosphere: 9

Remember mention of the train theme? Well, the Depot has a train on a suspended track that travels around the restaurant and bar area. A mural and a lot of train and station memorabilia adorn the walls and even the table tops to bring it all together. To top it off you can order a Switchman’s Special or the Cowcatcher off the menu which continues the theme in the menu too. Its a nice touch.

Definitely worth going to if you are on the east side of St Cloud and looking for some good grub at a good price!

The Lincoln Depot is at:
629 Lincoln Ave SE
St Cloud, MN 56304
(320) 251-9211

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

Woohoo! Retro is always in fashion when you take 1 part burger joint, add a healthy portion of 50’s memorabilia, and then wrap it all up in hammered tin and chrome. The Park Diner is all about the 50’s in its appearance, but I was sadly left with only a partial sense of nostalgia for a time long before I was born. Still, it’s a good alternative to the hordes of clone restaurants on the Division Street strip.
Food: 7 (Good size portions)What to expect? 10 points to the guy in the corner that said Americana. Yep, burgers and sandwiches with cutsie names like “The Potsie” are all over the menu. There is also a breakfast menu for those who are looking for a little morning faire.

Presentation was good. Salads are laid out nicely with lots of toppings and little or no rust. While lettuce rust is not necessarily completely in the control of the restaurant, keeping it to a minimum is a mark of quality. Kids meals are served in cardboard Mustang convertibles which may seem minor to adults, but for the 3 to 8 year crowd that’s a brand new toy holding their food. Malts and shakes are a winner as they are served with the tin cup extras.
Meals are not robust, but definitely on the larger side of average for Central Minnesota.
Service: 6 (Bus staff is excellent)

Service was good but not outstanding, but, considering most of the staff seems to be younger, honing good customer service skills tends to be a developmental process that can take a long time. Like most restaurants that stay open for longer than a few months, the wait staff checks in as often as they need to. Not any more it seems than is necessary to keep you complacent.

The bus staff was a pleasure to watch as they descended on tables before the customers had even left the building. The power to turn tables quickly can be a great boon for places of this nature where the seating is not ample. This seems to be the case whether they are crazy busy or not. Kudos.

Atmosphere: 8 (So close to greatness.)

Ok, love the decor and the whole diner feel. I don’t wish to detract from that part of the experience. Its bright and gleaming in there with scads of cool things to look at in case the conversation with the person on the other side of the table is not interesting enough to absorb you attention. Hammered tin ceilings are cool no matter where you are and ya gotta have a checked floor in a place like this.

Overall, the environs were really well done. My only disappointment lies in the fact the theme did not travel completely across the board. I mean, even the dishes looked like they were appropriate for the time period! My disappointment lies in the fact that the servers were not in a period attire. The whole nine yards with hoop skirts and that stuff would be really over the top, but ANY attempt to coincide with the theme and it would complete the dining experience for me. If you are going to go through the trouble of making a recreation, then you need to go a little further.

In closing, would I eat there again? Definitely. Will I like it? Sure. Will I still grouse about the lack of theme continuity? ABSOLUTELY, but that’s how it goes sometimes. Feel free to comment if you thing I am anywhere near correct, but don’t feed my ego. It’s full enough already.

Park Diner
1531 Division St, Waite Park, MN
Tel: (320) 252-0080

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

I like to eat. No, really, I like to EAT, and there isn’t anything that fills the void better than a buffet. The Great Dragon in downtown St Cloud is an example of the American traditional Chinese buffet in almost every way possible. The food served up is just as advertised so let’s get into it.
Food: 6 (Nothing extraordinary but tasty)

Now I am not trying to knock the Great Dragon as I have eaten there many times, but to be honest its like eating at a Perkins or Denny’s…you almost know exactly what you are getting before you sit down. 95% of the objects at the buffet are no different then all the other Chinese buffets you have ever eaten at…General Tsos Chicken, Mai Fun, Jello cubes and fortune cookies…just what you expect to find when you eat at any Chinese buffet. In the food category, you do not see a lot of originality, but maybe that is what you are looking for when you go to a place like that. When you go to McDonald’s you expect to find certain things as well. All in all, there is nothing that is served that I didn’t like or that I hadn’t seen elsewhere. I guess the sameness of it prevents the diner from saying, ‘WOW, that was too ‘original’ for my tastes.”

Service: 6 (Self serve soda after your first glass)

Without specifically speaking to the staff, I would imagine the same family has owned it for some time. The guy who seats you has been there for as long as I can remember. Staff stability ensures consistent service which leaves diners from feeling that something was missed. As you would expect, the tradition of respect to diners is followed according to the culture.

Atmosphere: 5 (ala McDonald’s… it seems so familiar)

This is a smaller restaurant which lends itself to more intimate dining, but the center of the main dining area is still crammed full of tables. Unless, its the height of dinner time, you should expect a more quiet dining experience. We are still talking buffet here where the main goal of any buffet restauranteur is to cram patrons in with a crowbar to make the big dough. Expect the same type of decor you would find elsewhere. The backlit picture of the family boating down the Yangtze River is nice to gaze at during your middle of the day moment of zen.

You get what you pay for and as long as you aren’t expecting anything other than the standard fare of any other Chinese buffet, then the Great Dragon is right up your alley.

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October 12, 2009 by Chad.

Industrial but classic, that would be the best way to describe the East Side of St Cloud and its landmark fast food restaurant, Val’s Rapid Serv. Val’s is a hold over from a time gone by when you didn’t have to be big to be successful as a restaurant. You didn’t need a huge parking lot and you didn’t have to decorate your dining area with elaborate themes. It truly is a burger joint with a classic appeal and a HUGE following of devoted fans from far and wide. My wife works in Onamia and one of her coworkers proudly proclaimed that he wanted to eat at Val’s when they had to come down to St Cloud for a seminar, just because it was Val’s.Just because. Normally that is not necessarily a good enough incentive for me to dine at a place. There are hundreds of restaurants in this area so its hard to justify going somewhere based on that flimsy reason. Find a more dynamic reason like the fact that it is an experience not to miss when coming to, living in, or finding yourself in St Cloud….ever.

Good: 7 (Mmmmm…grease)

A small army of workers like the core of a bee hive make your burgers on the fly in a tiny cooking area. Good thing there is a lot of family working in there because if they didn’t have the family tie, they would most certainly hate each other. Take it from me, when I worked for restaurants, the confines of the kitchen were sometimes battle grounds for bruised egos and bitter rivalries.

The burgers, and almost everything else on the menu, are greasy. Expect this. Its part of the charm of the place. Fresh ground beef patties…none of that preformed burger meat garbage, relish comes on the burger unless omitted during order, Oh, and if you are eating alone, never order more than a regular french fry because they already fill your bag up with fries…a large is overkill. You’ll find other menu items like fish,a Lent specialty, and chicken but don’t expect a huge variety. The main reason to go is for the burgers.

Service: 7 (Uniquely setup)

The first Time I went to Val’s ordering food was very in a very original way. You used to pick up a phone to place your order and you would talk to a lady who would key in your order. It would appear on a screen in from of you. This was very unique because you were no more than 3 feet from the window you receive your food from. Welcome to the 21 century. Now you have a touch screen to enter your order. When your order is done you will be beckoned to the window and pay for it there. The service at the window is quick but polite and almost neighborly.

Atmosphere: 5 (….uh, nice picnic tables)

Unless you have a desire to be dumped by your date who thought you were going to a posh restaurant, don’t expect a dining experience beyond that which you would get at a local park. This place is small…..no, smaller than you are thinking. Picnic tables are sprinkled around the tiny lot they have. Val’s sits on the corner of Lincoln Ave and East St Germain, a very busy intersection on the east side so there is not much else to do but jaw a bit and watch cars fly by.

Sometimes you go to restaurants for different things. Sometimes its comfort and sometimes its the experience. Well, for Val’s its the opportunity to strip away all the superficial trinkets of dining out and focus on the essential experience. What you see is what you get.

Overall 6.5

A half point? Well, I right the rules so I can do as I see fit. Val’s is definitely an experience unto itself, but as a “dining” experience it is lacking. You can’t make a classic car look like a 2007 model, but, then again, why would you? Know that you are eating at a piece of history and know that you will probably get something greasy but good.

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