Hannah's MSP Top Three

My fashionable friend +Jessica M. Tomaselli moved back to the Twin Cities recently and we met at GYST Fermentation Bar to catch up because we are hipsters. And because I like to be helpful, I named a dozen places to eat and drink well. And then typed up a Google Doc with even more suggestions because duh. 

Here they are!

Where to get a grass-fed beef burger

• Merlin’s Rest (Longfellow) - I love this place (that's why it shows up twice). 
• Gigi’s Cafe (Uptown) - I had the best burger of my life here summer 2015. Crunchy, juicy, and fresh. 
• The Lowbrow (Uptown) 

Where to get a drink with no TV screens

• Merlin’s Rest (Longfellow) 
• Barley John’s Brew Pub (New Brighton) - Nice patio and the steepest entry to a parking lot I've ever experienced.
• Ngon Bistro (Frogtown) - I love this place for phở, too, and they have a decent happy hour. 

Where to get donuts

• Mojo Monkey - West 7th. Banana Pecan Fritter with Caramel Glaze? Maple Bar with Thick Cut Bacon? DON’T MIND IF I DO.
• Glam Doll Donuts - Nicollet and 26th St. Bombshell (spiced Mexican chocolate & cayenne pecans)? Outlaw (lemon cream cheese, cherry icing & brown butter crumb topping)? DON’T MIND IF I DO.
• Bogart’s Doughnut Co (Southwest MPLS) OR sssdude-nuts (Dinkytown; open late!) OR Mucci's Italian (St. Paul; Sat/Sun only!) - Full disclosure: I haven't been to any of these yet, but I hear good things.

Where to get coffee

• Quixotic - Highland Village. Formerly White Rock. Now serves nitro coffee and is super chic.
• Kopplin’s - Merriam Park. My brother and his wife go here every day. Classy and picky as hell.
• Five Watt Coffee - Nicollet. The specialty drinks are off the hook, because they use BITTERS: http://www.fivewattcoffee.com/specialty. I recommend the Gin Basil Smash.

Where to get Japanese food

• Obento-Ya - Marcy Holmes. I keep winding up here.
• Masu - Three locations. Delicious cocktails, too.
• Sakura - Downtown St. Paul. Haven’t been here, but my sister has.

BONUS: Seven more places: http://www.citypages.com/restaurants/top-10-japanese-restaurants-in-the-twin-cities-6597034


Fellow MSP'ers, what do you think? Did I miss a place?