Another worthy 4 star restaurant! Spoon and Stable occupies an interesting place in the Twin Cities – I would argue it may be the most complete restaurant experience in town. The service is perfect, the room is gorgeous, the wine list is exciting and fresh ranging from affordable to luxury, the bar is sexy, the desserts are world class, and the food is absolutely delicious. UPDATED LIST AS OF APRIL 1 2015 As far as I can tell, Rick has given 15 restaurants that are currently open and operating 4 stars.
- Spoon and Stable, 2015
- Brasserie Zentral, 2014
- Heyday, 2014
- Travail, 2014
- Burch Steak & Pizza Bar, 2013
- Butcher & The Boar, 2012
- La Belle Vie, 2012
- Rustica, 2012
- Bachelor Farmer, 2011
- Meritage, 2011
- Heartland, 2011
- Piccolo, 2010
- Bar La Grassa, 2009
- Salty Tart, 2008
- Restaurant Alma, 2006
I think Rick’s in an interesting spot, because he has yet to review Brasserie Zentral, and the new Corner Table. Both are potential 4-star spots. UPDATES to ORIGINAL POST: Spoon and Stable lives up to the hype, in Rick’s 2015 review Rick Nelson has just given Heyday in Minneapolis 4 stars. I totally agree it’s worthy, as I foreshadowed in my write-up here. Boom. the Brazzerie Zentral review is finally out, and it gets 4 stars, 2014 Your thoughts? Are these restaurants worthy? Who else should be on the list?
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Bar La Grassa got 4 stars from him, too!
Thanks Annie – I updated the list to include BLG! (Weird the Strib doesn’t have any easy way to view all the 4-stars)
I judge restaurants on how likely I am to demand my parents eat at there when they come to visit – at the top of that list is Burch. Specifically, the funghi pizza at Burch. I don’t think I’ve had a better tasting pizza in my life. Everyone raves about Pig Ate My Pizza but I thought Burch was the superior choice in “new, trendy pizza spots” this last year.
Has he not rated Coup d’Etat yet? I think the food is divine; the drinks are okay.
He gave it a very solid 3 stars. http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/251016781.html
ohhh thanks!
Rick has a solid review approach that I think shows a lot of fairness and balance; he’s not chucking out 4 stars willy-nilly. That said, I do think the playing field has changed considerably in the 8 years spanned by these reviews. I don’t think we actually have 13+ 4 star places in today’s market. If some of these were re-reviewed in light of the incredible level of food going on in the Twin Cities, I wonder if we’d have more of a spread that would allow the stand outs to really shine? The bar has been thrillingly, deliciously raised. Lucky us!
Totally agree! I’m not sure if Alma would make the cut, to be honest. It’s decor and vibe is not worthy of the service and the food, and that could cost it half-a-star. I have a hard time with the bakeries – The Salty Tart rocks but it’s not 4-star. Rarely is the service there anything of note. Same with Rustica. They’re great bakeries – but not 4 star experiences, I think.
If Strib is going down the road (so to speak) of awarding four stars to establishments that are not full-service, then to me there are a few food trucks that are potentially worthy of the rating, such as Foxy Falafel, Chef Shack, Smack Shack, and Hola Arepa, among others. It’s also interesting that each of these food trucks have brick and mortar locations too, but to me none have the polish and ambiance of the other full-service restaurants awarded four stars.
I agree with Tracy’s comment. The food scene here is growing so fast that the standard of excellence is in constant upward motion. Four stars in 2006 is a different standard than in 2010, which is different than in 2014. When I see a four-star (or otherwise “highest possible”) rating from a critic/media source, I consider the year it was awarded so I can put it in context with the standards of the time compared to now.
That’s why I conveniently added the years, Emily! I’m in your brain.
Spookily and constantly.
OMG, where is Broders?????
3 stars in 2007 I think.
Whatever happened to rating the service? Whatever happened to the full experience? The host greeting you? The manager table touch? The knowledgeable server who guided you through your dining experience–or stayed out of the way? Also, whatever happened to those socks with the pom pom’s on the back?
Do you think these places lack service or that the writing of the reviews underplays service? I agree that service should be key to a rating/review.
I haven’t tried Heyday yet, but will soon. I guess the only one on the list I would disagree with is Bachelor Farmer. Been there a handful of times and always come away thinking, meh… Not that the food isn’t good, I just don’t think it’s 4 stars good. Alma would still rate in my book as the food is always stellar. And, I was at LBV last week and it was as good as always. Clearly the best restaurant in the cities.
I think Butcher & the Boar may slipped a bit when Jack left, but is finding it’s legs again. Still darn good though.
The reviewers never seem to write about service. Before celebrity chefs and mixologists, it seemed service mattered.
I’m trying to work on it, myself, but I don’t regularly review. I agree with you 100%. (We had great service at Republic Seven Corners last week!)
Not sure if any are four star because I do not know the criteria but most best of lists tend to exclude much farther east(and north?) of downtown st paul. You being excluded of course.
I never hear about any of the restaurants in Stillwater getting reviewed by anyone. Stillwater is constantly getting new restaurants every year but rarely any reviews. Lolo (the chef from Phil’s Tera is one owner) just opened, Marx, the Green room, the dock cafe, Revé 324 (which is closing and reopening as Revé Bistro and Bar in a new location soon), Shanghai bistro, nacho mamas, domacins wine bar, smalleys pirate bar, the list goes on with good restaurants.
I reviewed Green Room for Minnesota Monthly a couple years ago, but the reality is there’s only a couple full-time reviewers in the Twin Cities, and when you add in the packages they have to do (Burger Friday, road trip foods, Pizza issue) it’s hard to get to everywhere.
Major eye roll regarding the decor comment about alma. Pretty sure they are the only one on this list that has been open before 2000, let the food be the star of the show. I would personally drop Heartland, Salty Tart and honestly Piccolo from the list. Food at Piccolo is beautiful and very thoughtful, but there has been no dish I would go back for and have been over several menu changes.
Jess, I knew people would be mad about the decor comment. There’s a reason they bought the Dunn Brothers next door and are renovating – and frankly it’s because it’s not up to the level of expectations we have today about a 4-star experience. To me 4-star doesn’t mean: great food, great chef. It doesn’t mean “craveable” either, which is what you’re getting at with Piccolo. It means excellence: from concept to food to service to decor. I LOVE The Strip Club – it’s my favorite in town – but there are certain things about that room that would keep me from calling it a 4-star restaurant. Just like the old Corner Table – great food, great service, but one bathroom? No host stand? I don’t think so.
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