I was excited to have an impromptu brunch with my friend Lisa when we both happened to be in Woodbury at the same time and I was even more excited when she suggested The New Woodbury Cafe since I had not been there yet.
Every year my mom treats my sisters, grandma and myself to dinner and a play. This year we wanted to switch it up from our usual go-tos; the Orpheum and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. I was excited to try out the Ordway for 2 reasons: 1. the seating actually allowed me to have leg room! This is a rare feat at 5’10. In fact last year two women behind me where talking rudely about me, because they couldn’t easily see around me…I’m sorry for existing? Pay for better seats next time? and 2. it meant we got to try a new restaurant!
I will readily admit that when my coworkers asked me what play we were going to I had absolutely no idea (still don’t exactly remember the name and while the singing was beautiful I hated the outdated message that a woman is going to fall in love with a man who doesn’t love her back and “sacrifice herself” for his happiness…), but by 11am that morning I already had two dishes picked out at Pazzaluna Urban Italian … priorities.
Because of boyfriend’s work schedule, I’ve been spending a lot of time over on his end of town, which means a lot of my weekends have been spent on the East side, more specifically in Woodbury. I’ve made it my mission for us to try out all the different Woodbury brunch options there are. We had actually been to Lakes Tavern and Grill previously for a lunch and found it satisfactory (nothing bad, but nothing that blew us away) so when my friend said that it is his go-to brunch spot I was willing to try it out.
I was staying over at Boyfriend’s house and (surprise) he had no groceries, so we were excited to try a new place, Yang’s Chinese Restaurant.
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I was so excited to hear that there was another food hall that opened and that this one was in the North Loop and the perfect distance for an after work dinner! Graze Provisions + Libations has some super cute outdoor spaces that I’m excited to try when it’s not subzero temps and has quite a bit of sections of seating; sitting areas, private dining tables, hi tops, bar seating, and family style dining. Basically any vibe you’re looking for you can find.
They have a couple bars areas and also Honey & Rye where you can get some bakery items or coffee, but we’re going to focus on the food!
If you’re like me it takes a really good reason for me to drag my butt out of the warmth of our office to go somewhere for lunch during the winter. Kokapelli Deli is good reason.
I have this unexplained anxiety about hibachi restaurants. I think it’s mostly due to the performance pressure of having food thrown into the air that you’re supposed to catch in your mouth and the social pressure of participating in having sake squirted directly into your mouth WITHOUT letting it stain your clothes…my refusal to go to hibachi has not gone over well with boyfriend so after a year of stubborn refusal I finally agreed, much to boyfriend’s outward jubilation, to visit Osaka Seafood & Steakhouse for date night.
While anyone who follows me on Instagram has probably figured out that I’ve become a regular at Not Justa Cafe’s Sunday Brunch, we were on a bit of a time crunch and trying to stay near boyfriend’s house. With the demise/closing of the Perkins a couple months ago we were at a loss until we remembered Key’s Cafe & Bakery and how everytime we drive by it we say, “we should go there.” Well, mission finally completed.
PSA: Lift Bridge Brewery is actually NOT by the Stillwater Lift Bridge.
I was excited to finally get to the tap room though, after years of drinking the beer and telling everyone out of state that “I’m from there!” Continue reading
Hipster Hack 