Da Spot


705 Century Ave N. Maplewood, MN 55119

I finally went here last Friday with a buddy after seeing all of the great reviews and pictures on Urbanspoon over the months, and after eating there I am questioning the taste bud's of every rave review that I encountered before finally trying it.

First things first, the two kinds of wings were a big disappointment, both for myself and my friend. In all fairness we only tried two different kinds of wings, ("The Canadian" and "The Johnny Apple Seed") so I can't make a blanket judgement about the other wings based off only trying two, but this is my experience with the two I tried.

I believe both of the orders of wings were fully cooked, but whether they had been sitting for a minute or two, or just were cooled off to prevent burning a mouth, the inside temperature needs to be a lot warmer than what seemed to be barely above room temperature.  I was worried that weren't cooked long enough as I ate them, and it is unacceptable to me to be eating a mildly warm wing.

As far as the taste of both sauces, the sweetness was a little much for my taste even though one was a "dessert" wing, and though I did like "The Canadian" more so than the "Johnny Apple Seed" both were very underwhelming in comparison to the rave reviews I have been reading and the taste I was expecting.  The "Johnny Apple Seed" wings were an especially strange taste, and that flavor combo was a little too jarring for my liking.  The bleu cheese was nonexistent to me.  Also, I expect a little crisp factor to my wings, and the outer skin of all the wings was a disappointing mushiness that should not be acceptable to a good wing joint.

Simply put I expected a lot more out of dis spot after reading all of the rave reviews, but when you have really high expectations, (especially of the gastronomical variety) sometimes disappointment is the only sure thing to follow.  But even if I had not read those reviews and had stopped in by happenstance I still would have been disappointed with the wings.  I do give them credit for trying out such bold wing flavor combinations, and I am going to try some more sauce combinations before I assume all are as underwhelming as "The Canadian" and (especially) Johnny Apple Seed wing, which in my opinion, should probably be taken off the menu.

Also, the place could really use a paint job, and some lighter colors, as the ambiance is more akin to a basement rave party, than a place that you would sit down to eat.

Ending on a good note, D's french fries were by far the BEST french fries I have ever had in my life, and the accompanying sauce was equally grand.  I could go on about D's fries for as long as I complained about the wings.  Those fries are the definition of a foodgasm in every bite, and if you want the best fries of your life, try D's (pun intended).

Rusty Taco's - Uniquely Grand!

508 Lexington Pkwy S St Paul, MN 55105

Excellent Taco's!

I have been hearing great things about "Rusty Taco" so I finally had to try it for myself. I can now confirm the deliciousness! I tried two taco's-"The Rusty", and another which I forget the name-but it had shredded pork or beef and both were exquisite.

The thing I liked about "Rusty Taco" taco's was the unique flavors that created an orgasm of deliciousness within the confines of my tasty bud's. All the flavor's worked quite well together, and the result was a uniquely grand taste that is different than most any other taco I have had in a delicious way. The pineapple in the rusty taco perfectly complimented all the other flavors. Went with a friend that loved it as well.

One other GREAT thing about "Rusty Taco?" ALL the taco's are $2.50 and unless your a fat slob, two tacos are enough to fill you up!

The only drawback? The guacamole is absolute shit-the pureed kind that comes out of a plastic bag I got the feel, not a 1/10 as good as Chipolte guacamole. So they really, really need to make fresh guacamole or just stop making the stuff they have now all together, because it shames an otherwise great experience.

Cheeky Monkey - You'll Go Banana's!

525 Selby Ave. St Paul, MN 55102

I have been meaning to try this place for years-finally went and tried it yesterday.

I ordered a coffee, the cubano, and a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. I sampled the veggie sandwich from my friend; my Bro had the meatloaf sandwich-and the four of us all really enjoyed the food.

We arrived at around 4:45 so it wasn't too busy, but started to get filled as we waited for our sandwiches to arrive, which didn't take long at all. When they arrived they were uniformly cooked, and delicious. Nothing exceptional, but really good, and the price was right ($8 without tax.) I love the ambiance of the place and the cleanliness of the space as well as the outside surrounding it. Great energy!

For $6-8 you get to choose a sandwich, and before I went to check this place out, I saw a negative review from some slob complaining that there are no side orders to go along with the sandwich. Well, I am 6' 3'' and 190 pounds and had worked out earlier so I was hungry, and I was overly full after eating the Cubano..so there is plenty of food within the sandwich, and if you are one that is still hungry after eating one of Cheeky Monkey's, you are probably overweight, and need to be eating less-not more.

I also loved the free glass vats of iced cucumber water and lemon water. I never order soda, so that was a nice idea, that stuck with me.

Los Ocampo - Best Sandwich EVER!

1751 Suburban Ave. St. Paul, MN

I had the best sandwich I have ever eaten in my life at Los Ocampo. I ate it over a month ago, and have not been able to put into words how delicious this particular item of food was. It was so good, I haven't got it since-afraid that the taste will never be replicated in my, or any other's lifetime. Such a strange sandwich concoction, yet so unbelievably good, it was the first time I had attempted to procreate with a sandwich-(a case of the Costanza's.)

My friends ordered the Fajita's for their meal, and when my sandwich arrived, they admitted their jealousy that they had not ordered the same thing, after it was set down. So many flavors within one sandwich, I had suspicions whether all of the tastes would conspire to out taste each other, yet the opposite happened..Each flavor worked in unison to the best of their own ability to create an orgasmic gang bang of deliciousness in my taste bud's. There was the buttered carrots, barely making their presence known, there was the perfectly ripe avocado sliced lengthwise, reminding me of its presence in the littlest way with each bite, and...well don't get me started on the Cuban Ham or all of the other great food potions that made up this magical sandwich, because I haven't the words.

Well I got three actually: Hawaiian Mexican Sandwich.

Tea House - Excellent!

1676 Suburban Ave. St Paul, MN 55106

I went to the Tea House after hearing great things from friends and Urbanspoon reviews, and was immediately taken in by the pleasant Eastern ambiance when I walked in the doors.

I tried a few different items off of the menu, including the sesame chicken (crisped to perfection) and some pan fried noodles with garlic and something (two weeks ago) along with the cream cheese wonton's. The cook must be O.C.D. because every piece of food had the perfect crispness to it, and I am one that is a crisp snob-there has to be jsut the right amount of crisp-too much and it is burnt, too little and slightly soggy. All my chicken pieces were as golden browned perfection as I have ever eaten.

I will say if your one that is offended by a non-social server, you might take offence at the hospitality as the service was a little frigid.. It was not impolite though, just not a hint of warmth in the server's mannerisms. Though the service was not lacking or lazy, so no complaints here!

The price is about $2-4 more than your typical Chinese eatery, but the food is twice as good so it is worth it!

Maria's Cafe..Superb African Burger and Huevos Rancheros!

1113 E Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55404

I ate here often when I was working construction across the street on "Roger Beck Florist," which is an amazing building you must walk across the street and check out after your delicious meal at Maria's..
The first time I had an "South African Burger," was at Maria's and I haven't had a better one since. The South African Burger is normal burger patty with cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce and a pineapple ring and it is my favorite burger of all time..easily, and Maria's makes a mean one.
Elsewhere, most call it a Hawaiian burger, but the first time I had ever heard of one was after eating it at Maria's so I am very thankful for that experience.
Besides that burger I have tried a number of other items and it has all been really, really good. Everyone that I have ever eaten there with has raved about it, and if you dine there you will be hearing similar praise as you eat.
It is always packed, but there is a reason!

Where oh Where have you gone My Dear Schlotzsky's?

Oh, the days of ole (1999) when I would pass by Schlotzsky's Deli in Woodbury and order myself a super sized sandwich packed with deliciousness of epic proportions.

With each bite, my heart would flutter, my legs would quiver, and my taste bud's would fly towards the heavens..This was the feeling a Schlotzsky's Deli Sandwich would evoke with each bite..  Such a proprietary taste I guess is not for everyone, and she soon closed down, as did a little piece of my taste bud's heart..

Absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder; a Schlotzsky's Deli Sandwich is surely proof of that..

Well meet again, I know we will.