Greetings, Eaters and Readers!
Back in 2023, Jaclyn and Martha attempted a Minnesota road trip. Keyword there is attempted. We did get to the Twin Cities – St. Paul to be specific – but the day we left saw the arrival of *the* biggest snowstorm of the season. Our parents actually begged us not to go: the way the weather people talked, lives WOULD be lost in this storm. But because both of our birthdays are in February, partnered with the fact that we had planned this trip for months, we said a prayer and hit the road. Ultimately, we made it safely to our Airbnb. We intended for the trip to be full of authentic Minnesota adventures since Jaclyn had never been. And while we didn’t get to do all the things – we still felt like Jaclyn got one of the most authentic “Welp, this IS Minnesota!” trips.
Flash forward to 2024. We had been looking for a reason to get back to see some friends – and show Jaclyn the snow-less side of Minnesota. This time, we fit in all the things: a concert, local breweries, Paisley Park/Prince’s house, a haunted cave tour, a Juicy Lucy and just the general crisp autumn vibes Minnesota can offer. That’s why this month’s blog is a recap of all the delicious bites we enjoyed on our trip. Take a peek and let us know: Do you have a Minnesota favorite?
Garlic Cheese Curds ($12.25) — Served with red sauce.
Butternut Squash Ravioli ($17) — Sage cream sauce, parmesan mousse, candied walnut
Mostaccioli ($15.25) — Marinara, goat cheese fondue, parmesan, bread crumbs
Fettuccine Alfredo ($15.25) — Fresh fettucine, garlic parmesan fondue, crouton crumble
Last year, during a snowed-in evening that begged for comfort food, we turned to Red Rabbit via DoorDash – and wow, were we in for a treat. The freshness and quality of every dish had us hooked. So naturally, on our first night back in St. Paul, weary from travel and craving something reliably amazing, we ordered Red Rabbit again. Spoiler alert: It was just as outstanding.
The garlic bread cheese curds? A glorious balance of crispy, gooey, and garlicky perfection. The butternut squash ravioli? Sweet, nutty, and decadently creamy – it was our favorite dish. The goat cheese in the mostaccioli had a tangy, rich twist, while the fettuccine Alfredo gave us those classic comfort vibes.
Another flawless meal. With many Minnesota trips on the horizon, one thing is certain – Red Rabbit isn’t just a dinner; it’s our new tradition.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip ($14.49) — Artichoke hearts, spinach and cream cheese dip, baked and served with herb-toasted baguettes and flatbread crackers.
Crab Cakes ($14.49) — Sweet and tender crab meat cakes topped with a lemon aioli.
French Onion Soup ($4.50) — Served with garlic bread.
Bacon Wrapped Shrimp ($16.49) — Marinated shrimp wrapped in Applewood-smoked bacon and char-grilled.
Cajun Chicken Fettuccine ($25.99) — Chicken breast medallions sautéed with Andouille sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, and fettuccini. Tossed in a Cajun cream sauce, and served with toasted garlic bread.
Bennett’s Chop Chef Side Salad (with meal) — Chop of romaine, iceberg, and cabbage, tossed in house dressing. Topped with bacon, red onion, black olives, turkey, ham, Swiss and cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and cucumbers, and a sliced egg.
Tender Trio Medley w/ Au Gratin Potatoes ($40.99) — Three grilled beef tenderloin medallions. One is topped with roasted wild mushroom bleu cheese, another is topped with caramelized onions and béarnaise sauce, and the third is topped with a horseradish crust.
Western Chicken Sandwich ($16.49) — Ranch buttermilk marinated chicken breast, hand breaded and fried. Topped with cheddar cheese, campfire sauce and coleslaw, served on a pub bun with shredded lettuce.
Honey-Smoked Salmon Salad ($17.99) — Garden salad mix with fresh raspberries, tart dark-dried cherries, mandarin oranges, candied pecans, diced tomatoes, and honey-smoked salmon. Tossed in a Raspberry Ranch dressing and served with flatbread crackers.
In a former life, about 10 years ago, Martha called on various Twin Cities medical offices for her job. During one trip, a coworker from California joined her to visit some of her accounts. When it was time for dinner, she searched for a steakhouse and found Bennett’s Chop & Railhouse. Martha vividly remembered her first visit to Bennet’s: She hesitated at the sight of its unassuming exterior, only to be completely blown away by the incredible meal inside.
Shortly after that first visit, Martha told her friend Traci (who lived in St. Paul) about this new, hole-in-the-wall “you’d drive right by it” place she had found. It wasn’t long before every trip to St. Paul required a Bennett’s stop. Jaclyn did get to experience it during our first trip, and she easily understood why it’s always on the list.
Martha ordered the dish she had her very first visit to Bennett’s: the Cajun Chicken Fettuccine. It was as delicious this time as she remembered it to be. Jaclyn was so impressed with the Honey Smoked Salmon salad she ordered in 2023 that she ordered – and loved it – again. The rest of our party – from Bennet’s newbies to local patrons – enjoyed every bite, too.
Bennet’s is a true gem that offers something for everyone. Creative, high end but delicious dishes? It’s got ’em. Comfortable, casual space to have a good burger and watch the Wild game? It’s their specialty. Bennett’s truly – from Martha’s 10 years worth of visits – hits all the right notes, every time. She’d go so far as to say that Bennett’s would earn our “oh, you’re driving through Minnesota? You HAVE to go to…” kind of CGB-adjacent status.
Pig Pen Egg Rolls ($10.99) — Choice ground chuck, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, diced pickles & bacon bits all wrapped up and fried until golden brown. Served with sweet Thai chili sauce.
Classic Juicy Lucy ($13.99) — Stuffed with American cheese. Served with sweet potato fries with homemade marshmallow bleu sauce ($3.50).
Roadhouse Juicy Lucy ($15.99) — Stuffed with American cheese and topped with 5-8 sauce, bacon and an onion ring.
Cranberry Turkey Clubhouse ($14.99) — Roasted turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and sage aioli on cranberry wild rice bread.
Two spots claim to have invented the Juicy Lucy – a burger stuffed with gooey, molten cheese (if you didn’t already know). Jaclyn had never tried one before, and when hunger struck, 5-8 was our closest choice.
We started our meal with Pig Pen Egg Rolls, which were essentially the makings of a cheeseburger rolled into and fried in a wonton wrapper. While not mind-blowing, they were enjoyable enough to awaken our taste buds.
Wanting to try a no-frills original Juicy Lucy, Jac sunk her teeth into the piping hot burger – which took a few bites to reach the cheesy center – and loved it. Nothing fancy, but something about melty cheese oozing out so you can dunk your burger edges into more cheese just felt right. This will forever be the Juicy Lucy Jac will measure against.
The doctored-up Juicy Lucy Martha got – the Roadhouse version – was good, but what she realized she really wanted was just the classic, no-frills burger. So depending on which mood you find yourself in, follow your gut. Literally!
Oh, and the Cranberry Turkey Clubhouse? Meh. Hardly worth mentioning – stick to the classics.
Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub
Northern Fried Chicken Sandwich ($16) — Crunchy, deep fried chicken breast. Served on an egg bun with lettuce, tomato, pickles and honey-mustard.
Turkey Club Sandwich ($16) — In house smoked turkey breast, house cured bacon, lettuce, tomato, feta cheese spread, sweet & hot mustard, smoked Swiss cheese served on toasted white bread.
Brisket Philly Sandwich ($17) — Hickory smoked brisket, roasted red bell peppers, sautéed onions, and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce on a hoagie roll.
Famished and looking for sustenance nearby, Traci mentioned Northbound Smokehouse, a brewery she’d been to before.
We had high hopes as the fried chicken sandwiches landed on the table, steaming hot and freshly made. But while they were perfectly fine, they didn’t exactly wow us. Traci’s Philly leaned heavy on the salt shaker, leaving her underwhelmed, though our other friend found some redemption in her turkey club. Still, the meal as a whole? Meh.
If we were handing out fork ratings, this one would land firmly sideways. Sorry, Northbound – this stop isn’t making the return list.
Finding The Good Bites in the Good Life State 