The February Hit List: Creekside Supper Club, Colita, DeGidio’s, and More

It might seem sacrilegious to some for a Wisconsin-style restaurant to set up shop on Minnesota turf. They’ll get over it. The owners of the neighboring Parkway Theater have taken what was long a stop for burritos, nachos, and enchiladas as Pepitos and turned it into a destination for supper club fare — we’re talking prime rib, French onion soup, shrimp cocktail, a wedge salad, and, of course, a fish fry. Another “of course”: a relish tray (actually, two). If the gratis one served to all tables isn’t enough, order the bigger, badder version, which boasts smoked trout dip, pickled vegetables, wild game sausage, and fried curds. To end the night? A classic after-dinner drink (of course), such as a Brandy Alexander, a Pink Squirrel, or a Grasshopper.

What might just be the Twin Cities’ best coconut cake has landed in St. Paul — along with everything else sweet and savory that has made this local string of café/bakeries so appealing. As at the other locations, the atmosphere here is casual, it’s counter service only, and there’s plenty of seating, including a four-season patio. Setting this spot apart, though, is a little bubbly: You can enjoy a glass of on-tap prosecco with your fish and chips or tuna melt, in addition to beer and wine. But back to those desserts: If coconut doesn’t strike your fancy, a slice of the famous Patticake, with its trio of chocolate layers dressed in a cream cheese buttercream frosting, just might.

No reservations.

Colita exudes coziness, charm and a certain sexiness that all but ensures tables will be full mid-month when diners fall under the spell of St. Valentine. But the fusion-y “Tex-Oaxacan” restaurant doesn’t need a holiday to bring in the crowds; the food and drinks have been doing that on their own since opening day back in 2018. The centerpieces are the smoked meats (think pork, lamb, and chicken), which are boosted with dynamic ingredients such as tamarind, pickled jalapeños, anchovies, and caper berries. From the “hot” section of the menu, The Cacio e Pepe Stacked Tostadas are an absolute must — housemade tortillas huddle under a gooey blanket of queso, are covered in a snowy layer of grated cheese, and get finished with a crack of pepper — although they get a run for their money from the simple-yet-addictive bowl of Corn Elote. For a spot-on Mexican drink, order the pulque, a cocktail of fermented agave sap flavored with guava, lychee, hibiscus, and peppercorn.

If the Caramel Roll Pancakes aren’t Instagram-famous yet, it’s just a matter of time. These plate-sized stacks of breakfast goodness boast swirls of caramel and a smattering of pecans. While not as decadent, the Usual is a hearty serving of morning favorites: eggs your way; hash browns; a muffin, biscuit, or toast; and a choice of bacon, ham, or sausage from Fischer Farms in Waseca. Lunch shares the same hours as breakfast and expands on the diner fare: loaded waffle fries, a Copperfield Club sandwich, a build-your-own burger (select your bun + cheese + vegetables + sauce), two produce-heavy grain bowls, and a slew of other hard-to-choose options. “Supper,” which takes over at 4 p.m., does the lunch menu one better by adding on a handful of larger plates — like a red wine-marinated flank steak. Stop in between 3-5 p.m. and you’ll save a few bucks on select beer, wine, and cocktails.

Just after the new year arrived, so did this rebrand from the team behind Travail, which took over the Pig Ate My Pizza digs. How different is this concept? To quote from the website: “Same people, same culinary creativity, but with a whole new menu and MORE BEER!” And the taps are plentiful — 26 rotating options, brewed in small batches. The dinner selections are broken up into three parts: cold (think shrimp, a Bibb lettuce salad), hot (pizza as well as items like chili and fried chicken), and sizzlers (currently a pork belly curry and a prime rib that’s available only on the weekend). Desserts haven’t been forgotten, with made-in-house creations like the seasonal tart: apples spiced with cinnamon sugar and a bourbon caramel, cradled in a croissant pastry crust, and topped with streusel.

Call (763) 537-7267 for reservations. 

When drinks are in order, reserve a seat at this Northeast bar and restaurant, where the well-rounded list runs from beer, wine, and classic cocktails to more inventive mixed options, like the Smoking Jacket, a blend of Scotch, amaro, dry curacao, coffee bitters, and orange. In a unique touch, flights here roam beyond wine to include rye, agave, amaro, aquavit, bourbon, and more, including a “cello” flight with limoncello, orangecello, and nocello, all made in-house. You’ll find plenty to hold your interest on the food side, as well. Kick your meal off with items such as the Amusement Board — a mix-and-match of cured meats, cheeses, olives, mostarda, bread, and crackers — or the beer-battered Ellsworth cheese curds glazed with MN fave Cry Baby Craig’s hot sauce. Then venture into the mains, which could be a simple sandwich or something more robust, like the Moroccan lamb stew or the cherry-brined squab with parsnip puree.

The menus at this beloved sushi bar are omakase-based, aka chef’s choice, meaning the only decisions you’ll have to make are what to drink and how much sushi to indulge in. Fortunately, chef Shigeyuki Furukawa is a master of his craft; you’ll be in good hands as he and his team pull together an experience featuring classic fish varieties as well as more uncommon types. Each menu tier delivers a selection of Japanese amuse-bouche and other small bites. The biggest difference is in the number of pieces of nigiri: five in the Ume ($60), 10 in the Take ($105), and 13 — including uni, wagyu, and toro taku — in the Matsu ($145). This is not a place that overwhelms with crazy combos. Rather, the focus is on the super fresh, ultra-high-quality fish and simple flavor touches that elevate each bite.

Call (612) 338-1515 for reservations. 

For about 30 years, chef Joginder Cheema has been feeding locals at his restaurants throughout the Twin Cities area — but never in Minneapolis. That changed in December when he, his son, and a business partner opened their latest endeavor in the former Sanctuary space. Their North Indian focus is a welcome addition to this area near U.S. Bank Stadium. Diners can expect familiar dishes such as a variety of naan, samosas, pakoras, biryani, tandoor oven-cooked kebabs, and vegetarian, seafood, and meat curries. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the gulab jamun (syrup-soaked orbs of deep-fried dough), rice pudding with pistachios, or one of the two ice creams.

For reservations, call (612) 333-9020. 

This is true old-school Italian — with a history. When Prohibition ended in 1933, bootlegger Joe “Kid Bullets” DeGidio opened a bar here, which was (as legend goes) a popular haunt for the area’s gangsters. Times and clientele changed and so did DeGidio’s, upgrading to a bar and bowling alley in the mid-1940s, then nixing the lanes and becoming a restaurant in the ’80s, one that’s now run by Kid Bullets’ grandchildren. This is where you come to get classic red sauce lasagna and spaghetti (the sauce is made daily using a decades-old family recipe), chicken Parmesan, calamari fritto, stromboli, rigatoni alla vodka, and the signature Old Fashioned Hot Dago sandwich: sliced Vienna bread loaded with a spicy Italian sausage patty, tomato sauce, and baked mozzarella cheese. In a nice nod to “drink local,” the beer list is filled with taps from around the area.

On the other side of the metro from DeGidio’s lies another classic, this bar/restaurant/entertainment center that’s been serving up fun for decades. Reserve a seat in the restaurant to nosh on casual favorites such as burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and starters, like beer-battered cheese curds, fried pickle chips, or one of the eight varieties of wings. (Tip: You can nab those wings for $5 off during the weekday happy hour, Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.) Then spend an hour or two knocking down pins at the bowling alley; Cosmic Bowling on Friday and Saturday nights is a $21 all-you-can-play, neon light-filled extravaganza. Two bars provide plenty of room for watching the game du jour, or stop in for trivia (Monday and Wednesday nights) or bingo (Tuesday at 6 p.m.).