READERS
POLL
Five of our Critics
Picks (page 84) are star performers on your Ten Best list
(at right), but five aren't. It's not hard to explain the
divergence. Critics are jaded. We eat for a living, on
someone else's dime. We seek innovation, originality,
ambition. We admire chefs who experiment and push the
boundaries of what's possible. Those priorities guide our
perspectives on a restaurant. Most of you have different
priorities. You seek hospitality, consistency,
predictability. You value, well, value -- after all, it's
your money. Some of you are jazzed by what's new and
different, but more of you are loyal to what works. There
are foodies out there who sneer at readers' polls such as
this. Though it inevitably reflects a widely divergent set
of tastes and expectations, it also incorporates a more
holistic and down to earth set of standards, because it
reflects the tastes of real diners. Pazzaluna, The Capital
Grille, and Chambers Kitchen -- three wildly different
restaurants -- are newcomers to the Top Ten. They alone are
a great indicator of the diversity of opinion that makes up
this survey. Thanks to Sarah Howard and a marvelous crew of
interns for shepherding this massive undertaking. Please dig
in.
--ADAM PLATT, DINING EDITOR |
10
Best Restaurants
(and how they ranked
in other categories)
|
1. |
112 Eatery
1st late
night dining, 3rd comfort food |
|
2. |
Kincaid's
1st bar
menu, 3rd (tie) service, 3rd (tie) special occasion,
5th (tie) happy hour deals, 5th (tie) power lunch,
5th seafood |
|
3. |
St. Paul Grill
1st power
lunch, 3rd (tie) Twin Cities institution, 3rd view,
4th brunch, 4th dessert, 4th service, 4th special
occasion, 4th wine list, 5th (tie) romantic, 5th
(tie) steak |
|
4. |
The Oceanaire
Seafood Room
1st seafood,
3rd (tie) service, 3rd (tie) special occasion |
|
5. |
Manny's Steak House
1st steak,
4th Twin Cities institution, 5th (tie) wine list |
|
6. |
La Belle Vie
1st service,
1st special occasion, 1st wine, 2nd French, 2nd
romantic, 3rd creative cocktails, 5th dessert |
|
7. |
Jax Cafe
2nd brunch,
2nd outdoor dining, 2nd service, 2nd special
occasion, 2nd Twin Cities institution, 3rd romantic,
5th (tie) neighborhood restaurant, 5th (tie) steak |
|
8. |
Murray's (tie)
1st Twin
Cities institution, 3rd steak
Pazzaluna Urban Italian (tie)
2nd
after-work scene, 2nd happy hour deals, 2nd Italian,
3rd bar menu, 3rd wine list, 5th creative cocktails |
|
9. |
The Capital Grille
5th (tie)
power lunch, 5th (tie) steak, 5th (tie) wine list |
|
10. |
Chambers Kitchen
1st stylish
atmosphere |
|
