Ngon Vietnamese Bistro – St Paul, MN

CLOSED July 22, 2023

https://www.startribune.com/ngon-bistro-closing-last-day-saint-paul/600289458/ 

799 University Ave W

Established 2007

Visited July 10, 2010

Opportunity finally availed to see if Ngon lives up to its reputation. First impression: Wood. Tons of wood. Something unexpected: It’s clean. It’s an atypical Vietnamese restaurant. It didn’t have Vietnamese servers and it didn’t have Vietnamese clientele. The menu has limited items compared to the typical Vietnamese restaurant menu and entrees included fancier American dining fare.

Vero - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED June 30(?), 2023

4300 Glumack Drive, Concourse G

Visited March 23, 2015

The MSP airport gutted the old guard Concourse G restaurants and replaced them with trendy expensive local celebrity chef restaurants of the OTG empire. iPads are in your face for self service ordering and further isolate the lonely diner while disincentivizing wait staff to provide good service as the tip is paid at point of order. Being an airport, the wait staff knows customers are one time and gone forever.

The Blue Door Pub - St Paul, MN

CLOSED April 19, 2021  

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/blue-door-pub-to-close-its-original-st-paul-location-on-selby-avenue/

1811 Selby Ave

Established 2008

Visited August 13, 2014

Peking Garden - St Paul, MN

CLOSED May 29, 2020

https://www.twincities.com/2021/03/12/peking-garden-st-paul-location-tapestry-restaurant/

1488 University Ave W

Established 2006

Visited July 19, 2008

Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED April 30(?), 2020

Established 2017

Visited April 28, 2017

Chicken and Pickled Peppers. This is not one of the more popular options.  Shredded chicken breast and pickled peppers seemed an unlikely combination as well as toppings for pizza.

The chicken lacks sufficient seasoning with the first few bites but than my salt deadened tongue awoke and appreciated the simplicity of the chicken after a heavy week of salt intense food. The peppers were typical of those offered at Subway. The crust is light, thin, and crispy but non-distinctive.  3 stars.

Twinburger - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED March 30(?), 2020

Concourse G

Established 2013

Visited February 3, 2014

Twinburger is collaboration between Matt's Bar and the MSP airport. It's another of the iPad ordering system restaurants where the iPad system asks to you tip before receiving any service.

Salty Tart Bakery - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED late(?) 2019

Concourse E

Visited November 15, 2018

Coconut macaroons. It has a nice firm chewy texture with a salty sweetness mild coconut taste that's perfectly balanced. They are expensive little things at two for $6, but I got it at an ultimate discount of a gift price.  3.75 stars.

Wok & Roll - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED October(?) 2018

I know better but in my quest to dine nonrepeat, I order here. The pale chicken lacks any evidence seeing stir fry action in a high heat wok. Where's the glistening finish? The broccoli appears overcooked and mushy. The beef seems OK but it also lacks the finishing sheen. The green pepper is a overcooked drab olive instead of a bright brilliant green. I know how this will taste and yet I still order it.

Arby's #8344 - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED Oct(?) 2018

Monday morning is one of the busiest air travel times.  Business travelers clog the airport as the work week starts.  That means the airport in all aspects need to be prepared. So I approach Charlie's Philly Subs and see only one person working.  I turn around and look down the entire food court to see few workers. I turn to Arby's.  Only the cash register is manned.

chili's too - Minneapolis St Paul Airport MSP

CLOSED late 2015(?)

After walking Concourse G and looking at the asking prices of the OTG eateries, I swung back up and settled on chili's presuming the prices would be a few dollars less.

Quiznos Sub #9545 - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED 2019

Terminal 1, Concourse A

Quiznos builds some of the best subs around and I favor Quiznos over Subway, at least that's how it use to be.  That's what I use to believe.

French Meadow Bakery & Cafe Main Mall - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED December 2019

I've been to the French Meadow in Concourse F, and this was my first stop to the French Meadow in the Mall. This French Meadow has a section where you food cafeteria style as well as a sit down section.

Golden's Deli - St Paul, MN

CLOSED 09/07/2017

275 E 4th St.

Golden Deli is housed inside an old building reminiscent of something out the 30's and 40's. The name Golden Deli feels incongruous with the setting.

For breakfast, the menu selection is limited.

Charley's Philly Grill - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED Oct(?) 2018

Charley's at DTW served decent Philly Cheesesteaks so I figured I would give the breakfast sandwiches a try at MSP.

Wok & Roll – Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED Oct(?) 2018

Concourse C. It’s the closest thing to buffet quantity food that you can get at the airport.

Burger King #11498 - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED May(?) 2018

Concourse F

Time only for fast food.

The thing about the King is that you know what you're going to get. The business model is standardized. The difference is the workers, their attitudes, and the quality and care of the food assemblers. Do they slap it together or do they care? Sometimes the food is good, sometimes unexpectedly good but usually it's about par.

Famous Famiglia - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED

According to their website, this is the only Famous Famiglia in Minnesota and it happens to be located at the MSP airport.

O'Gara's Bar & Grill - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED late 2019

Concourse F

O'Gara's offers a slightly more eclectic selection of foods than typical bar but not falling into gastropub category. They serve food faster than typical knowing the customers are rushed travelers.

Rock Bottom Brewery - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED December 31, 2018

Eating healthy on the road is fraught with challenges and often means going to a sit down restaurant for healthier options.  I had some time to kill and Rock Bottom fit the bill. I'm glad that was the case because the waitress serving my table didn't show until another waitress walking by asked if I had been served and got my waitress.

La Tapenade - Minneapolis St Paul International Airport MSP

CLOSED May(?) 2018

Concourse F

This was my second stop here. The first time wasn't favorable but I decided to give La Tapenade another shot as I'm quickly learning refrigerated cold sandwiches stale quickly, even those prepared at higher quality eateries, and are only a notch better than vending machine sandwiches. I wanted a healthier choice and decided to stop here because they do have healthier choices.