For those of you who have not tried the fabulousness that is Granite City Food and Brewery, you need to try it now. My friends and I were all originally introduced to it in other cities (Fargo and St. Cloud), but we have become fast fans. The closest one is in Maple Grove, and we tried it this weekend. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the atmosphere is very similar to the St. Cloud location, and the food is just as excellent.
Here's why you should try it. To begin with, the menu is huge. And by huge, I mean HUGE. I have tried several selections, all of which I recommend. First, the Vodka Mussels are delicious. I have never had any kind of shellfish before, but my good friend let me try one, and they were fabulous. They're considered an appetizer, but you could make a meal of them. Granite City also has excellent burgers. You have to ask them for lettuce, tomatoe, etc. (which are all free upon request) but the options for cheese and fixings are extensive. The waffle fries are also delicious, as are the Monterey Crab Wontons.
Which brings us to the real reason this restaurant rocks: They make their own beer. I order the "Bennie's," which is a Mai Bock. It has a nice flavour without too much bite. I also sampled the "Two Pull," which mixes the Northern Light Lager with the Bennie's, and this was a little smoother. I also enjoyed the Stout when I had it in St. Cloud. I am told the India Pale Ale is also good, but I am not a fan of IPAs because they are a little too sharp to me. My friend says the Bennie's is on her list of top 25 beers. I would say that Bennie's is one of my favorites, if not my favorite.
Additionally, the service has been excellent so far. The wait staff is friendly, smiley, and knowledgeable aobut the menu. Also, the wait time has never been long, but keep in mind that we time things specifically to avoid any and all meal "rush" times. Add to the service the atmosphere of the place (granite tops on the greeter's station, brick/granite block pillars, incredibly high ceilings, and rich dark wood for the booths, tables, and bar), and you've got a great experience waiting to happen.
They have some pretty good specials after 9 PM, including half price appetizers (great excuse to order the vodka mussels) and specials on the beverages. We're probably going there again. Possibly tonight.
Ok, that is my plug. Try something new and delicious; try Granite City.
Posted by LoWriter at June 16, 2005 06:51 AMcome to where the flavor is; come to Granite country
Posted by: rhett at June 16, 2005 10:08 AMIs that their slogan???
Posted by: Lo at June 16, 2005 10:41 AMDUDE! I hope they're paying you for this.
Posted by: Mardou at June 16, 2005 11:36 AMLOL! While I can be bought, in this case, I have not been. And really, my positive opinion of something that sucks (like Cingular, for instance) would cost them more than a whole new marketing campaign. Nope, it's just really that good. Honestly, I haven't been to a restaurant with so much variety, such great service, and such a clean open atmosphere in a very long time. It's fast becoming my fav.
Feel free to forward it to them and get them to offer to pay me if you like, though. ;) It is a dream of mine to one day be a restaurant reviewer and get paid to eat dinner.
Posted by: Lo at June 16, 2005 12:28 PMSee... and I always considered eating kind of a nuisance. Like going to the bathroom. Just another damn thing my body wants me to do for it.
Sleep! Eat! Go potty!
What about what BECKY wants?!?!?!
But if someone would pay me for it... then that'd be good. Then no worries.
Posted by: Mardou at June 16, 2005 12:35 PMWe have hit on the reason why I am considerably larger than you. I love food/eating.
Posted by: Lo at June 16, 2005 02:06 PMFood, glorious food! i cannot rightly express my love of the deadly sin gluttony. tut tut on me, i know. pretty much, i work out so that i can EAT what i want.
heh heh... my needs are as follows:
1. sleep
2. eat
3. laugh/talk
4. sex
5. alcohol
wow, i really am a minimalist! :o)
Posted by: Dr. Gonzo at June 16, 2005 04:35 PMI'm just an anxious freak that always wants to be DOING something (of course, something I want to do... not something my body or some other person demands of me)... I probably burn a good 50 calories a day just biting my nails. People have asked me if I'm on the cocaine.
and it's not all sunshine and rainbows to be built like a 12-year-old boy. I'd much rather have a chest... or a butt... or even A curve. Just one. I don't even need "curveS". LOL!
Maybe I'll just get ONE butt implant.
There was a chick in Voltaire's novel "Candide" with one butt cheek. It didn't sound that great.
Posted by: rhett at June 17, 2005 01:04 AMDidn't she have some kind of accident or something? She didn't start out with one butt cheek. Ah, Candide. Good times, good times.
Posted by: Lo at June 17, 2005 07:43 AMI thought all those dead writer-type guys were above comical physical deformaties?
I gotta read some Voltaire.
Posted by: Mardou at June 17, 2005 07:48 AMVoltaire is satire, so he uses a lot of that sort of thing. I need to re-read it, too. It's been awhile. Three years? Four? Ugh. I am getting so old. At any rate, it's disturbing if you don't take it as being along the lines of Swift's "A Modest Proposal." I liked Candide at the time because I felt a lot of angst and he kind of makes fun of people who go through life with a "Bob Ross" kind of attitude (You know: "All the happy little trees" painter guy). Pangloss is the character who really takes that attitude (hence the term "panglossian" (meaning "marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds : excessively optimistic,") and I laughed, but I'm twisted, and we all know it.
Posted by: Lo at June 17, 2005 08:28 AMwell that means i have panglossian tendancies... hmm... damn the happy trees!!!
Posted by: Dr. Gonzo at June 17, 2005 02:42 PMAs I remember, the wench who has only one butt cheek had the other cut off while she was being tortured.
Not a very pleasantcircumstance for the best of all possible worlds.
My favorite Voltaire quote is "No matter how high the throne, there sits but an ass"
Posted by: rhett at June 19, 2005 11:25 AM