Affordable Dining In The Twin Cities
By Nicole Crosbie
Going out to dinner doesn't have to be for special occasions. If you know the right places with the right prices, you can afford to go to dinner when you're just not in the mood to cook. Here are some choices for restaurants in the Twin Cities that are as affordable as the delicious.
Matt's Bar
3500 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
(612) 722-7072
www.mattsbar.com
Home to the original Juicy Lucy, a hamburger with cheese inside the patty instead of on top, Matt's Bar is a small diner with one of the most talked about burgers in the Twin Cities. Menu items are all under $5.00 and include the Juicy Lucy, chicken and ham and cheese sandwiches ($4.95 each), cheeseburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches ($3.50 each) and of course, French fries.
Pizza Luce
1183 Selvy Ave
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 288-0186
Hours: Mon to Thurs 11am-2:30am; Fri 11am-3:30am; Sat 10am-3:30am; Sun 10am-2:30am
Website & Reviews
If you're looking for something other than traditional cheese or pepperoni pizza, try a specialty selection from any one of Pizza Lucé's locations. Popular varieties include the baked potato pizza with mashed potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, cheese and bacon, or "the bear" for meat lovers with Italian sausage, pepperoni, chicken, ground beef, bacon and cheese. All pizzas are $24 or under.
The Anchor Fish and Chips
302 13th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 676-1300
Hours: Tues to Fri 4pm-1am; Sat to Sun 10am-1am
Website & Reviews
This restaurant has an upscale feel without upscale prices. Created by three friends, Anchor Fish and Chips meals (and beer!) are Irish influenced. Popular dishes include the wild Alaskan cod with hand-cut chips for $8.75 and comfort food like shepherd's pie for $8.95.
True Thai Restaurant
2627 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 375-9942
Hours: Mon to Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri to Sat 11am-11pm; 12pm-9pm
Website & Reviews
Decorated with traditional Thai statues and artwork, True Thai Restaurant is known for its calm, soothing atmosphere and for serving some of the best Asian food in the Twin Cities. The ultimate Pad Thai (served with your choice of tofu, mock duck, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp or calamari) and the chili-tamarind stir fry (served with your choice of tofu, mock duck, chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, calamari or scallops) are two popular dishes. Most menu items are $7.95-$10.95 with the most expensive items at $14.95.
Fat Lorenzo's
311 West 84th Street
Bloomington, MN 55420
(952) 888-3283
Website & Reviews
If you love Italian food, Fat Lorenzo's has prices for any budget. Salads range from $5.00-$7.00, hoagies are in the $8.00 range. The spicy Italian sausage with marinara and mozzarella is a popular one, weighing in at $8.29. If you don't like salads or hoagies, try Lorenzo's lasagna for $9.79. Be sure to save room for gelato for dessert!
Nicole Crosbie loves fashion and shopping, she has lived in Minnesota her whole life and loves finding new places to shop, eat and explore in the Twin Cities. She has degrees in public relations and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.