Two Good Places for Kids

Any restaurant that is kid-friendly gets high marks (in my book). Mainly because I have 3 kids and like going out to eat. And a great burger place maybe the best of kid-friendly places - usually not expensive or too fancy and plenty for kids to choose from. That said, I still want the burger/fries combo to be great - atmosphere alone won't carry. Solid malts are a plus factor.

Here are two suggestions for Twin Cities burger places that work well with kids:

Annie's Parlor - This spot, in Dinkytown a block from the U, is always a good choice. While parking in the area is not the easiest, a visit is absolutely worth the block walk.  Great selection of burgers.  Nothing strange and they all taste good (the meat itself is good - which is a sure sign of a great burger place).  Fries are in shared baskets.  Crisp and salty.  Malts solid.   Not fancy but vibrant mix of families and U of M types.  One of my repeat favorites and gets a solid A.  Here's a link:  http://tinyurl.com/7kch9v (citysearch info - could not find an official site). 

Snuffy's - A Twin Cities burger mainstay.  I'm biased because there's one about 3 blocks from my house in Mac-Groveland, Saint Paul.  Locations also in Roseville, Minnetonka andEdina.  Go here for the easy kid-friendly set-up, burgers any kid would like and great malts.  My kids never leave this place unsatisfied.  Many out of town friends/family request a stop because of the festive atmosphere and old-fashioned malt shop feel.  All of the foregoing are big thumbs up.  But... I wish they would get their short-order cooks to visit a few other great burger places.  The meat needs a bump up in flavor and texture.  And fries should be a bit tastier.   Because my kids love this place, I give it a B.   Check it out at:  www.snuffysmaltshop.com.

Slightly over and under - but rock solid - Longfellow and Mission

The two sins of burgerdom - over- and undercooking.  I've over-grilled a turkey burger, waiting for it to hit the magical 170 degree safe eating temperature.  At which time it was a hockey puck.  Or, once at Boston College, in the McElroy Cafeteria, eaten a burger that literally spilled forth sangre when I bit in.  The key is using meat that is not too lean so it can stand a little cooking, cook fast but hot and get her on the bun.  

In view of the foregoing, two recent visits to report - and to two of my favorite places - Longfellow Grill on the River Road in Minneapolis (www.longfellowgrill.com) and Mission - in the IDS in downtown Minneapolis (www.missionamerican.com).  I love Longfellow Grill (and Highland Grill, Edina Grill, Groveland Tap and every other restaurant/bar in their universe).  This place helps anchor the end of Lake Street before you cross over to Marshall and the good side of the river (St. Paul).... I'm very happy this place is here.  The food is outstanding, they have a full bar and great beer selection.   And they have great burgers.  Peter's is my usual - from Perth, Australia with a hard-cooked egg on a sourdough bun.  But over Thanksgiving weekend, I tried the Grill Burger.  Has smoked bacon, tillamoook cheddar (I highly recommend), lettuce, onions, tomatoes and BBQ sauce.    Overall, the burger gets a thumbs-up.  I ordered medium (so I expect juicy) - this was more like medium-well.  But was tasty.  And the fries were the thin-cut french kind (my favorite).   Beer was good.  Rush River Bubble Jack.   One of the best things about this place - you can show up and sit down pretty easily (important as a parent).

Mission - this should be a nationally-famous restaurant.  And not for serving frou-frou food (it doesn't) but because the service and food are outstanding.  I once watched as the head manager (out of view) explained how and when tables were to be cleared to a new busboy (who had perhaps strayed a bit).  I eat here enough that they recall my name (the only such restaurant).  I look for excuses to eat here.   While not cheap at dinner, lunches are reasonable.  And - the burgers and fries are excellent.  This one of those place that gets it.  The meat tastes good by itself - and it only gets better from there.  Fries are rough cut and great.  Coated in coarse salt and pepper and about as good as any fries need to be.  I've had a few burgers here and they are all outstanding.  Last offering - earlier this week - was the 1/2 lb kobe burger with blue cheese.  I ordered medium (and got more medium rare).  Delicious and I was not hungry the rest of the afternoon.  Big thumbs up.  Go for the burger! bacon, Tillamook  cheddar cheese, iceberg lettuce, crispy onions, vine ripened tomatoes and a touch of our BBQ sauce