Great Twin Cities Hang Outs

Hey Rachael!

I'm looking for a few good restaurants to check out in St Paul -- since you're an expert on food and you live in St Paul, I thought of you :-) Any suggestions? I'm not looking for something fancy necessarily, but good places to hang out for meetings, dates, etc -- fun places you can sit a while and have conversation (so...not loud :-). Any favorites you have?

-Mike

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Great question Mike! I especially love the bit about being an expert on food. Perhaps an expert on eating. :) Ok, here are some of my favorites (I have left date places out of my list but plan to blog about them soon). Any of these places are pretty quiet even when full and you won't get kicked out if you have a 2 hour meeting.

am - Breakfast

• Chatterbox Pub in Highland Park - great ambiance, cool food, and they let you hang out for like ever
• Any of the Blue Plate Restaurants: Longfellow's, Highland Grill, Edina Grill

coffee - anytime

• Dunn Brothers, all locations - hands down my favorite coffee chain for ambiance, food and yes, the ability to hang out eternally. Except for the Grand Ave locations (or those really near a college) they are pretty quiet. I frequent the 201 3rd Avenue South Mpls location.
  
• Nina's on Western/Dale, though it gets a bit noisy during meal times
• Kopplin's
• Black Bear Cafe at Como Park
  

lunch

• Pop!
• Senior Wong (1/2 price apps and drinks every Wednesday--Asian/Latin cuisine)
• Bulldog
• Cosetta's
• Cafe Latte
• D'amico and Sons
• Punch Pizza...I would imagine, but haven't been to the St. Paul location yet
• WA Frost for a fancier lunch. I never feel rushed there and have definitely lingered.
  

after work drinks -There are literally dozens of these places in St. Paul. Here are my faves:

• Happy Gnome
  
• Muddy Pig
• Loto Life cafe
  
• Groveland Tap

Alright my trusty blog readers. What did I miss? Where can you go for a drink or a meal and not feel rushed? A place not too noisy...with good food or drinks?