Twin Cities' Best Hamburger 2008

Dig into a legendary burger in a classic dive-bar setting.

Reviews:

• “BEST JUICY LUCY”
• “The best old skool bar around, the ultimate in low overhead!”
• “The Best Burgers in the Country…. Bar None”
• “Simply put”
• “Classic”

Tips: Just about any order buys your seat for as long as you want it—which is why people do their homework and write their novels here.

Matt’s Bar

From the neon outside to the modern teal-accented decor inside, this diner has heart.

Reviews:

• “Fun Place, doesn’t seem like it’s in Edina”
• “One of the best burgers in the Twin Cities”
• “It’s gone down hill!”
• “Best french fries around!!”
• “Worth a visit”

Tips: Grab a high-backed wooden booth and choose a jukebox favorite.

Convention Grill & Fountain

Locals come for American-style comfort food in a relaxed setting.

Reviews:

• “Love the amosphere”
• “Great food”
• “great food!!!!! BAD service!!”
• “Great Juicy Lucys”
• “Great Food @ Great Prices”

Tips: If you don’t want to look like a loser in front of all the regular diners, don’t try to enter through the front door; it’s locked. Go around back like everyone else.

5-8 Club

Reviews:

• “Fantastic Burgers!”
• “Sandy’s is the place to go in Richfield”

Sandy’s Tavern

Minnesota River Valley roadhouse known for its burgers.

Reviews:

• “Excellent Burgers”
• “Very Solid Burgers”
• “Complete Disapointment”
• “Great Burgers”
• “Sloppy burgers”

Tips: If you like it well-done, make sure to say so, otherwise you’ll get it a little pink in the middle.

Lions Tap Family Restaurant

Retro-cool digs for scensters and locals—and comfort food that really comforts.

Reviews:

• “Sharky is the manager you need to have at all this towns eateries!”
• “Avoid Sitting at the Bar”
• “Good food Nice Environment”
• “Not so Irish”
• “Good brunch, terrible service”

Tips: Arrive around 5pm if you want to sit in one of the coveted comfy booths for dinner.

Ike’s Food and Cocktails

This Dinkytown malt shop is as much a part of the University of Minnesota as Goldy Gopher himself.

Reviews:

• “Get what you pay for…”
• “Great fries and malts, long food wait”
• “REALLY Gone Down Hill”
• “Not worth your time”
• “Could Be Better”

Annie’s Parlour

Cruise back to the 1950s, where super-cheap burgers draw diners on Harleys, in classic cars and the occasional monster truck.

Reviews:

• “Lost a good customer”
• “Not much special”
• “The Classic is Relived On Central Avenue at Porky’s”
• “Porky’s on Central Avenue”
• “was horrible”

Tips: A crunchy onion ring comes smashed into the top bun of all the burgers, but be sure to order a full basket of rings.

Porky’s

Reviews:

• “Best burgers in town”
• “Great burgers”
• “I love it!!!”
• “Burger Loving”
• “Best burgers in town”

Casper & Runyon’s Nook

A sophisticated restaurant run by a personable, talented French chef who attracts the in crowd.

Reviews:

• “Excellent Service”
• “French comfort food”
• “Wonderful dining experience”
• “Wonderful food, service, atmosphere”
• “one of the worse frensh cuisine”

Tips: Vincent serves a weekly changing, $38 prix-fixe menu, available Sunday-Thursday at dinner.

Vincent – A Restaurant

Find homespun cuisine with a 21st-century touch.

Reviews:

• “Great people watching and breakfast!”
• “Service was slow and insulting”
• “Quite tasty!”
• “Best breakfast around”
• “Good but not a Kid Place”

Tips: This company also owns the Longfellow Grill and the Highland Grill.

Edina Grill

This Northeast haunt brings class to its humble ’hood with an impressive beer line-up and a swanky bar menu.

Reviews:

• “Ostrich Burger = Delicious!”
• “Only average, nothing special”
• “Go for the beer, not for the service. And beware the cold cut plate.”
• “Our favorite place for burgers, nachos, shuffleboard, and beers!”
• “Good times to be had by all”

Tips: The restaurant grinds its own Kobe beef to make burgers. Go for the Good Morning burger with ham, American cheese and a fried egg or the Truffle burger with Brie served on an English muffin.

The Bulldog N.E. Restaurant and Bar

Location aids the cool, casual cachet of this Lyn-Lake brewpub and eatery.

Reviews:

• “Terrible service. Staffed by doosh-bags. Avoid.”
• “Great burgers, need more TV’s”
• “Delicious Delicious Beer”
• “Great brews, surprisingly delicious food too!”
• “Its a gamble with this place”

Tips: There’s a lot on the north side of the building.

Herkimer Pub & Brewery

Fine dining has moved into the Lake Street neighborhood with this classy independent eatery.

Reviews:

• “Best meal I have had in a long time!”
• “Great food, surprisingly kid friendly”
• “Worth going back but a couple improvements needed….”
• “Great food, slow cooking and slower service”
• “Beautiful Neighborhood Restaurant”

Tips: The house special martinis include several worth sampling: try the Minnesota pickle variation—-it’s shaken (not stirred) with Minnesota Shakers’ vodka.

The Craftsman Restaurant and Bar